The following commentary by Ron Anderson, the Springer's associate artistic director and director and founder of the Springer Theatre Academy, that appeared in the Ledger-Enquirer on Aug. 16.

An extraordinary thing happened at the Springer Opera House on Saturday night.

The Springer’s State Theatre Dinner drew an overflow black-tie and evening-gown crowd, who all came to acknowledge, support and contribute to the Springer Theatre Academy, the 800 students who comprise the our young-actor training program.

But that was not the extraordinary thing.

Among the hundreds in attendance on Saturday were Gov. Nathan Deal and his wife Sandra, Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson and her husband Tripp, Fort Benning Commanding General Robert Brown and his wife Patti, various dignitaries, business leaders, community leaders, artists and arts supporters. But that was not the extraordinary thing.

Katie Deal, the daughter of the governor and a frequent performer on the Springer stage, entertained the crowd and sang a tribute to her parents on the eve of her father’s birthday. But that was not the extraordinary thing.

Artistic Director Paul Pierce gave a special acknowledgment to Sally Foley, a long-time Springer trustee and avid gardener, and presented her a rare gift of a very rare plant, the franklinia alamataha (or Franklin tree), native to Georgia but extinct in the wild for over two hundred years, and a tree that will be planted in the Springer’s new Learning Garden. That was not the extraordinary thing.

The mayor had high praise for the governor; the governor had high praise for Columbus and the arts; everyone there had high praise for the food, the decorations, the company and the service. And while all of these things added up to be one of the most pleasurable and memorable evenings the Springer has ever hosted (and through 140 years of hosting, the Springer has experienced some extraordinary things) still, that was not it.

What happened Saturday night at the Springer was that an exceedingly pleasant evening was absolutely transformed by the presence and the performance of one artist. As expected, folk singer and story teller Allen Levi charmed the crowd with his songs – pleasant yet energetic, witty yet insightful, home-spun yet inspiring. And that would have been enough to make this fundraiser for the Springer an event to remember.

However, at the end of his performance, Allen segued into a very personal and profoundly moving tribute to his younger brother Gary, present in the theatre that night but recently diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Upon learning three weeks ago of his brother’s condition, Allen had considered canceling his appearance at the Springer. He just didn’t think that he could or should go about his normal business and scheduled concerts knowing that his brother’s days were numbered.

But at Gary’s insistence, Allen did appear at the Springer. He went on stage Saturday night and did what he was born to do – sing. And at once, the evening was transformed. His music was both intensely anguished and assuredly hopeful. He sang from his heart directly to the hearts of those listening, and it seemed that no one swallowed or blinked or breathed for almost ten minutes.

It was one of those incredibly rare and incredibly truthful moments in live performance that even we who work in theatre experience all too seldom. It was a moment that reminds us of the power of simplicity, honesty and directness. The power of a performer to connect with an audience and then gently lead them to a new understanding. It is the nature and power of art.

Allen Levi performed for the attendees at the Springer’s State Theatre Dinner. But he did something much larger and more important. He gave them a gift. They came for an enjoyable evening; they came to be entertained; they came to support a program for young artists. Allen gave them an understanding of why that is so important.

On behalf of the Springer, I would like to thank the patrons, donors and supporters of this grand theater, its productions and its educational programming. I would like to thank the Springer Theatre Academy students, who not only inspired the evening, but lent their glorious voices to its festivities. I would like to thank the Springer staff, whose Herculean efforts dazzled the attendees. I would like to thank the caterers and staff from the Marriott who helped make Saturday night such a marvelous event.

And a very special thank you to our dear friend Allen Levi, who reminds us of why we come to the theater – to be moved.

Ron Anderson, the Springer's associate artistic director