The Center for Spiritual Living in Wilton Manors has announced a new performing art series promoting cultural community activities reaching out to a diverse and expanding population to highlight and benefit the needs of our community.

This weekend, the Center will present “The Double D’s Salute Las Vegas” starring David McBride and Debra Hampton and featuring the Phil Hinton Orchestra with special guest, Michael Walters as “Florida’s Own Dame Edna”. There will be a performance on Friday, April 30, Saturday, May 1 and Sunday May 2, all start at 8:00 p.m.

“The concert is a tribute to the great performances of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, Judy Garland, Barry Manilow and Bette Midler,” said David McBride. “It’s going to be a terrific, high-energy review.” This will be the third time McBride has performed at the Center.

The Center’s sanctuary itself transforms into a theater which will seat 500 people. Over the years the Center has reached out to the LGBT community promoting numerous arts and cultural events to benefit our community and support local organizations. For years, popular pianist, Terry Hammond was regularly featured after the closing of Chardee’s Dinner Club (now Bill’s on Wilton Drive).

“You don’t get much live music anymore,” added McBride. “It’s a beautiful theater experience as they turn the place into a real vintage Las Vegas showroom complete with audio/visual effects and, of course, we have Florida’s Own Dame Edna. We’re going to put the facility to good use.”

Each of the performances benefit a community organization: Friday, the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Broward; Saturday, Canine Assist Therapy and Sunday, the Anita Priest “Whispering Angels” Memorial Scholarship.

The Aging and Disability Resource Center of Broward coordinates and funds services for Broward County residents 60 years of age or older including elder day care centers, Alzheimer’s care, Meals on Wheels and other community services. Canine Assisted Therapy is committed to delivering therapeutic benefit through the use of dogs, to children and adults who need comfort, companionship and the unconditional love only a dog can provide. The Anita Priest “Whispering Angels” Memorial Scholarship Fund is a legacy scholarship program established in the memory of renowned designer, Anita Priest. Talented LGBT students receive scholarship grants to continue their education in Design and the arts.

“Each event that we plan will be targeted to raise money and charitable organization gets half the proceeds so it’s not like we’re making a small donation,” said McBride. ––BK

The Center for Spiritual Living is located at the corner of N.E. 16 Avenue and N.E. 26 Street. For more information and tickets for the “The Double D’s Salute Las Vegas” at the Center, visit www.cslftl.com.