February 1, 2011

The Pointer Sisters. Download image.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -  Grammy Award-winning pop group The Pointer Sisters will be the stars of the annual Viva Health Starlight Gala benefiting UAB's Alys Stephens Center at 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 1, 2011.

The Viva Health Starlight Gala is Birmingham's premier black tie event. The evening benefits the programs and education initiatives of UAB's Alys Stephens Center. Celebrating diversity and all genres of the performing arts, past performers have included Smokey Robinson, Diana Krall, Itzhak Perlman, Queen Latifah, Mandy Patinkin, Natalie Cole, Willie Nelson, Bobby McFerrin and Frederica Von Stade.

"When we announced The Pointer Sisters date, patrons were so enthusiastic it became clear to us that this show should be our gala," says Jessica Simpson, director of programming and marketing at UAB's Alys Stephens Center.

The Pointer Sisters' uplifting, energetic, chart-topping brand of sassy pop and R&B includes hit favorites "I'm So Excited," "Jump (For My Love)," "Neutron Dance," "Automatic," "Fire," "He's So Shy," "Slow Hand" and more.

The 2011 Viva Health Starlight Gala features performance-only tickets or a choice of two special packages for the evening. The Grand Gala Evening package begins at 5:30 p.m. with cocktails and dinner at the new UAB National Alumni Society House. Enjoy premium seating for the performance, and cap off the evening with dessert and dancing at the Alys Stephens Center. The Grand Gala Evening package is $750 per person.

The Performance and After Party package includes select seating for the performance and dessert and dancing afterwards at the Alys Stephens Center, for $125 per person. Tickets to the performance only are $68, $58, $45, and $20 for students, plus a $2 restoration fee for each ticket. Call 205-975-2787 or go to www.AlysStephens.org.

About UAB's Alys Stephens Center

The Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center, part of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is one of the Southeast's premier performing arts centers, presenting the world's best artists in music, dance, theatre, comedy, film, and family entertainment. The ASC's mission is to be a place where the entire community experiences and engages in the arts. The ASC is home to ArtPlay, a new arts education center, as well as UAB departments of Theatre and Music and the Alabama Symphony Orchestra.