Lucy the Elephant’s makeover is almost $1 million over budget.
To help cover the overrun and fundraise for the National Historic Landmark’s restoration, supporters are planning a Dec. 11 benefit concert at the Superstar Theatre in Atlantic City’s Resorts Casino Hotel starring Deana Martin, the daughter of Rat Pack icon Dean Martin.
Renovations to Margate’s six-story elephant have been ongoing since September 2021. The makeover to the iconic Jersey Shore roadside attraction was was once a $1.3 million project. But repairs to Lucy’s 140-year old skin, which was damaged by seaside conditions, have been more extensive than predicted, bringing the project’s cost to $2.3 million.
The benefit concert will help raise money to cover the additional costs, organizers said.
Martin will be joined by her 18-piece orchestra and perform holiday favorites and jazz standards and songs from the early 20th century.
Joining Martin will be Steven Maglio, who performs a Frank Sinatra tribute and has a long-running nightclub show in New York City at the Carnegie Club.
“We are beyond thrilled that Deana is sharing her extraordinary talent and famous family history with us,” said Richard Helfant, the Save Lucy Committee’s executive director.
“And having the fundraiser in Resorts Superstar Theatre is a dream come true,” continued Helfant, who worked closely with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin when he was a a junior executive at Resorts in the early 1980s.
The Superstar Theatre, Atlantic City’s first casino era showroom, was where Dean Martin first joined Frank Sinatra as a member of the Rat Pack, the concert’s organizers said.
This benefit concert is the second fundraiser the Save Lucy Committee launched to help cover the $1 million of restoration expenses the project went over. The first was a campaign asking 800 potential “Lucy Life Preservers” to donate $1,000.
Renovations on Lucy’s exterior are expected to be finished by late November or early December, said Helfant.
VIP tickets, which include a dessert reception and “meet and greet” after the show, are $125. Preferred seats are $50 and general admission seats are $35.
Tickets are available at www.LucyTheElephant.org, Lucy’s Gift Shop, Atlantic City’s Resorts Casino Hotel Box Office or www.Ticketmaster.com.
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.
Nyah Marshall may be reached at Nmarshall@njadvancemedia.com