Gala 2025

Thursday, May 15 | 6:30pm

Join us as we honor John Martinson (Chairman & Founder of Martinson Ventures) & Gene Williams (Executive Director of The Grundy Foundation) for their invaluable contributions to Bristol Borough & Bristol Riverside Theatre!

We’re back home, and there’s no better place to celebrate than in the John Martinson Theatre. It’ll be an unforgettable evening featuring the best parts of a cocktail party (delectable small bites, delicious desserts, and an open bar), plus stunning performances, all set against breathtaking views of the Delaware River.

Tickets: Orchestra $125 • Balcony $90

To purchase tickets, please call the BRT Box Office at 215-785-0100.

With performances by:

Gary Adler
Gary Adler

Gary Adler hails from the Detroit suburbs and attended the University of Michigan, where he studied Music Composition with William Bolcom and accompanying with Martin Katz. He has been a working theater musician in New York City for over 30 years. As a pianist and conductor, his credits include Avenue Q, Kinky Boots, Next to Normal, Urinetown, and The Radio City Christmas Spectacular. As a writer, Gary wrote both music and lyrics for the long-running off-Broadway musical Altar Boyz for which he received two Drama Desk nominations. Other writing credits include Disney Channel’s “Johnny and the Sprites” and a number of contributions to the “Carols for a Cure” album series.

Gary has close ties to BRT, as this is where his professional career began. He served as pianist/musical director for a number of shows including A Day In Hollywood/A Night In The Ukraine, The Roar Of The Greasepaint – The Smell Of The Crowd, Moby Dick, Chicago, Altar Boyz, and most notably, Victorian Sleighride.

Telly Leung
Telly Leung

Telly Leung is a Chinese-American, New York City native who is best known for his Broadway performances in Disney’s Aladdin  (Aladdin), In Transit (Steven), Allegiance (opposite George Takei & Lea Salonga), Godspell, Rent (the final Broadway company), Pacific Overtures, and Flower Drum Song. He created the role of Boq in the Chicago company of Wicked and starred as Angel in Rent: At the Hollywood Bowl (directed by Neil Patrick Harris). TV audiences will remember him as “Marcel” in Warrior (Netflix / HBO) and Wes the Warbler on Glee (FOX), as well as his guest star appearances on Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), Instinct (CBS), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (NBC), Odd Mom Out (Bravo) and Deadbeat (Hulu). Besides appearing on many original Broadway cast recordings, Telly is also a solo recording artist and his albums – I’ll Cover You, Songs for You, New York State of Mind and You Matter – are available on all digital music platforms. Telly is a multi-hyphenated artist who is also known for his work as a director, producer and performing arts professor. He holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama. For more information, visit www.tellyleung.com and follow on Instagram @tellyleung.

Rebecca Robbins
Rebecca Robbins

Rebecca Robbins is a Broadway actress, headliner vocalist, cabaret artist, and Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivor. Her credits include the original Broadway company of A Tale of Two Cities, as well as 3 years with the Broadway company of The Phantom of The Opera. She also toured North America with The Phantom of The Opera playing the role of Carlotta at venues including The Kennedy Center, Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre and San Francisco’s Orpheum Theatre. Off-Broadway credits include: Fiorello!, Fanny, Music In The Air, The New Moon, The Pajama Game (City Center Encores!); My Fair Lady (NY Philharmonic); and Wallace Shawn’s The Music Teacher (The New Group). Regional highlights include Marie in R&H’s Cinderella (Broadway Sacramento and Walnut Street Theatre); Corine in Triumph of Love (Bristol Riverside Theatre); Paulette in Legally Blonde (Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach); Ursula in The Little Mermaid, Florence Foster Jenkins in Souvenir, Mrs. Banks in Mary Poppins, and Louise Seger in Always Patsy Cline (Walnut Street Theatre). In addition to theatre, Rebecca has written and performed her own cabaret shows in venues from Honolulu to Key Largo. For more information, visit rebeccarobbins.com and follow on Instagram @rebrobbins.

Keith Spencer
Keith Spencer

Keith Spencer has pursued his love of stage and concert performance nationally and in many Philadelphia-local professional venues. National tour highlights include the Broadway Tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Music of the Night with Betty Buckley and Melissa Manchester. Favorite roles include Coalhouse Walker, Jr. (Ragtime); Joe (Show Boat); The Abolitionist (For the Glory: The Civil War Musical); Leading Player (Pippin); Sky Masterson (Guys and Dolls); Billy (Carousel), and Audrey II (The Little Shop of Horrors). Recent performance highlights include featured soloist with the Capital Philharmonic of New Jersey in a concert version of Porgy and Bess. Over the past decade, Mr. Spencer’s production company, Enspire Productions, has produced culturally relevant concert programming for corporations and schools and raised funds for student education and community organizations. Keith’s current focus is a series of concert works celebrating the African American experience and notable Black performing artists. For more information, visit keithspencer.com.

(More performers to be announced soon!)

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

  • Tickets: Orchestra $125 • Balcony $90

  • Cocktail Attire

  • Questions? Contact David J. Abers at 215-785-6664 x104 or dabers@brtstage.org for more information.
  • The Gala will take place at Bristol Riverside Theatre (120 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, PA).

Meet Our Honorees

John Martinson
John MartinsonChairman & Founder, Martinson Ventures

John Martinson is a private equity investor and software industry leader. Founded and led Edison Partners of Princeton, NJ for 30 years. Currently invests from family office, Martinson Ventures, in emerging growth businesses.

John served as Chairman of National Venture Capital Association. He founded the NJ Technology Council and Chaired Philadelphia/NJ Venture Fairs.

John is also an engaged philanthropist. In 2022 named 47th largest individual donor in the US. Financed and guided more than 50 projects at University Schools of Education and Engineering to improve K-12 STEM curriculum instruction and teacher professional development. Currently, John supports 8 honors programs and 5 performing arts projects in higher education.

John earned BS degree from US Air Force Academy, MS Purdue and MBA Southern Illinois. He remains highly active as the largest donor at all three institutions. Received their highest alumni awards.

John is a longtime subscriber and donor to BRT. He also funded technology for Music Mountain Theater and Newtown Theater.

Gene Williams
Gene WilliamsExecutive Director, The Grundy Foundation

Gene was born and raised in SW Philadelphia. He attended Philadelphia archdiocesan elementary and secondary schools and graduated from Yale University (B.A.) and Seton Hall University (J.D.).

He is a former archdiocesan elementary school teacher. He also formerly practiced law before becoming an administrator in a large financial institution’s charitable services department, remaining until 2003, when he was appointed Executive Director of The Grundy Foundation.

His work in that institution included a five-year tenure as the corporate trustee designee to the Grundy Board of Trustees.

Gene and his wife of 37 years, Marge, live in Delaware County. They are blessed by daughter Christine (Bryan) and Gene (Elaine) and grandchildren Hadley, Gene, Evelyn, and Isaac. Gene enjoys walking Silas, a seven-year old, mixed-breed rescue.

Outside of work, his hobbies include reading, home landscaping projects, Jumble puzzle solving, and Phillies baseball. He previously served charitable, civic, and cultural organizations in leadership capacities, including membership in the South Philadelphia String Band (Philadelphia Mummers).

Throughout his tenure at Grundy, Gene is appreciative of the warm welcome bestowed upon him by his adopted home town of Bristol Borough.

Gala Committee

Sekia Jackson
Committee Chair; BRT Trustee; Executive Director, Regional Credit, JP Morgan Chase Auto

Cindy Briggman
BRT Trustee; Creative Consultant

Megan Heckerman Curatolo
BRT Trustee; Senior Director of Human Resources, DotDash Meredith

TJ Lonergan
BRT Trustee; Executive Director, Bucks County Industrial Development Authority

Nancy Witt
Vice President, Sweetwater Construction

David J. Abers
Senior Director of Relationships, BRT

Amy Kaissar
Co-Producing Director, BRT

Ken Kaissar
Co-Producing Director, BRT