Friends celebrate 4th Players Ball

The Fourth Annual Players Ball gives Bloomington residents an opportunity for a night of dressing up, dancing and microbrews.

The event, a benefit for Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard sponsored by the Broad Ripple Brewpub and Brewers of Indiana Guild, will take place from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday at the Bloomington Playwright’s Project located at 107 W. Ninth St.

Tickets cost $5 for singles and $8 for couples with all proceeds going directly to the local Bloomington non-for-profit.

The event is all ages but guests must be 21 to drink.

The idea for the event started four years ago when Bloomington residents and friends, Keith Wright and Alec Hill, were listening to Outkast’s single, “Player’s Ball,” and decided to organize a ball for Bloomington.

“It’s a hip-hop reference, but we’re going for the ‘ball’ part as far as having a good time and having an excuse to dress up,” Wright said. “So many people love to dress up and never have a reason to.”

Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard is a pantry that provides food to people in need. Having utilized Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard’s services themselves, Wright and Hill donate the proceeds from the event to the organization each year.

“Every year the food there is more and more important because they keep getting more clients,” Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard and Players Ball volunteer Ryan Baker said. “A lot of families use the facility, and there will always be people that need the food.”

Because Broadripple Brewpub donated the beer and the Brewers of Indiana Guild provided funding for the venue, Wright and Hill can donate all of the proceeds directly to Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard.

Each year the number of attendees has grown as well as the amount the duo donates to Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard.

“Everyone that has helped us put it on in the past are into it because it’s a charity event, not just a party,” Hill said.

Hill said he hopes to build the ball’s reputation in Bloomington and make it an annual event.

“I now live in Brooklyn, but I told Keith that wherever I’m at I’ll always come back for the Players Ball,” he said. “I look forward to it every year.”