By Dean Poling
The Valdosta Daily Times — VALDOSTA — Jenny Howard was thrilled last year on hearing that her mother had won Peach State Summer Theatre’s first sweepstakes trip to New York City.
Howard soon had a much bigger surprise awaiting her.
“I was surprised to hear my mother’s name, Betty Beck, called out as the winner of the trip for two to New York City,” Howard said. “When I called to tell her she was the winner, she said she would be unable to go and would like for my two sisters and I to draw straws to see who would take the trip. Both of my sisters had already been to New York and said they wouldn’t draw but wanted Riley (her husband) and me to go, since I had never been there. Well, we were very happy to oblige and started making plans right away.”
Howard shared her story about last year’s PSST! event to prompt participation in this year’s Peach State Summer Theatre sweepstakes continuing through the Oct. 26 drawing. This year’s sweepstakes includes a first-place trip to New York, a second-place beach trip, and a third-place date night.
The sweepstakes raises money for Peach State’s run of three musicals each summer. Next summer’s season features Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” Disney’s “Mulan,” and “The Secret Garden.”
All three sweepstakes packages include season tickets to the 2010 shows. The top prize includes tickets to a Broadway show. Last year, Riley and Jenny Howard chose to see “Jersey Boys” and “The Fantasticks” in New York.
“I had enjoyed (‘The Fantasticks’) so much when PSST presented it a few years ago,” Jenny Howard said. “We came home from New York with a greater appreciation for the high quality of our PSST shows in Valdosta and the realization that our student performers often put more energy and excitement into their shows than some of the older, more experienced performers do.”
They stayed at the Omni Berkshire Place (which is the same hotel provided in this year’s sweepstakes), attended a spa, toured Conan O’Brien’s NBC studio before his move to Los Angeles, watched “Saturday Night Live” live, visited Ground Zero, Chinatown, and many other sites.
“We felt safe walking in New York City everywhere we went,” she said. “Looking back, the only thing we would have done differently is that we would have extended our stay for a few more days and taken in even more of the wonderful city of New York.”
PSST! Sweepstakes
FIRST PRIZE: NEW YORK CITY WEEKEND
To be taken between Jan. 7 and Feb. 28, 2010.
• Hotel provided by OMNI Berkshire Place 52nd Street at Madison Avenue.
• Roundtrip coach airfare via AirTran (Jacksonville or Atlanta departures available).
• Two tickets to a Broadway show.
• A spa treatment for two (two one-hour massages, $330 value) plus dinner for two at The Setai Club, New York, 40 Broad St. (Financial District, Downtown).
• An NBC tour of “Saturday Night Live” and Jimmy Fallon studios, as available.
• Two season memberships to PSST! 2010.
SECOND PRIZE: BEACH WEEKEND
• A weekend at Blue Mountain Beach on Florida’s Gulf coast, to be taken in early 2010, as available, exclusive of spring break.
• Two season memberships to PSST!
THIRD PRIZE: DATE NIGHT
• A date night with details to be announced.
• Two season memberships to PSST! 2010.
SWEEPSTAKES DETAILS
• There are a limited number of tickets for the sweepstakes, not toexceed 300.
• Tickets can be obtained for a $100 donation, with checks payable to the VSU Foundation for the PSST Sweepstakes.
• There is an $80 potential tax deduction with each ticket donation of $100.
• The drawing will be held Oct. 26, at 306 North in Downtown Valdosta.
Participants do not have to be present to win.
More information: Visit www.valdosta.edu/psst/Sweepstakes2009.shtml; or call (229) 333-5307. The Valdosta Daily Times is Peach State Summer Theatre’s corporate sponsor.
