Show Business Goes Local - A Cabaret Fundraiser For SPAN

On Saturday, June 1, Broadway came to Severna Park. Laurette Hankins-O’Connell, a member of the well-known Giddings family and a talented singer and entertainer, put together a cabaret show, “Broadway Goes to the Movies,” and performed it with pianist Anita O’Connor to a full house at Holy Grounds. All of the proceeds from the show were donated to SPAN (Serving People Across Neighborhoods).

Hankins-O’Connell trained in musical theater at Duke University and performed professionally in Baltimore and New York. After a “second career” in fundraising and development - she is currently associate dean of development and alumni relations for the University Of Maryland School Of Nursing - she realized she could put her talent to work by giving back to her beloved local community. A longtime supporter of SPAN, Hankins-O’Connell concocted a plan to perform a cabaret show and donate all proceeds to help local families with utility turnoffs, eviction prevention and medical/prescription needs.

While searching for an accompanist, Hankins-O’Connell’s friend, former County Executive Janet Owens, connected her to O’Connor, a talented pianist and vocalist who is a music teacher at Indian Creek School. To Hankins-O’Connell’s delight, O’Connor agreed not only to perform with her but to also donate her time to the cause.

The show was a whimsical and occasionally irreverent salute to movie musicals. Spirited songs such as “My Favorite Things” from “The Sound of Music” and Irving Berlin’s “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” from the show of the same name, had the audience clapping and singing along enthusiastically. Hankins-O’Connell’s wit and humorous anecdotes punctuated the show as she charmed the spectators.

SPAN’s director of development, Ellen Kinsella, decided to maximize the show’s profits by soliciting donations of food and silent auction items from the local business community. This also netted a donation of six copies of “Severna Park Reflections,” a book of memories about Severna Park, donated by Bay Media’s Pat Troy. All combined, the show brought in about $3,500, which includes $500 that was raised at the last minute of the show when Hankins-O’Connell pledged she would match all donations during the ensuing 60 seconds.

Hankins-O’Connell dedicated the show to her mother, the late Kathie Giddings-Hankins, who was an active member of the Severna Park community for five decades, and associate editor of the aforementioned book, “Severna Park Reflections.” Giddings-Hankins grew up in Severna Park and attended Severna Park Elementary School when it was a wooden building housing grades one through seven. She also was instrumental in founding the Severna Park Old Timers Club (SPOT), and was awarded the Heritage Leadership Award by ASPIRE in 2009.

Thank you to the following donors who contributed to the success of the cabaret show by practicing “Shop Local, Give Local:” Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi, Be My Guest Catering, Lisa’s Cakepops, Coco Couture, RockWell Fitness, Magothy Wine & Spirits, The Cottage, Goska’s Liquors, Benevolent Baskets, HoneyBaked Ham, Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre, The Baltimore Ravens and Justin Tucker, Great Frogs Winery, Benfield Nail & Day Spa, Gayle Gutridge, Benfield Wine & Spirits, Northway Liquors, Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Safeway, Costco and BJ’s.