John Heller, Post-Gazette Chuck "Neighbor" Aber and Rocky Paterra perform "Look and Listen" with the Pittsburgh Symphony/ Click photo for larger image.

If you hug everybody we'll be here until midnight!" joked "Wheel of Fortune's" Pat Sajak as Joanne Rogers, overcome with gratitude and emotion, made the rounds onstage at Heinz Hall. There were no air kisses or polite handshakes. Her hugs were as real as the woman who shared Fred Rogers with the world for more than 50 years -- gracious, heartfelt and exuberant. But Rogers' widow was not alone in wanting to hug the musicians and performers who entertained with "The Music of Fred Rogers" Saturday night. The feeling of being, well, special, lingered long after the standing ovation brought an incredible evening to an end.

The audience didn't generally know that the cast had come from far and wide and in some cases, even paid their own way, to be able to donate their services in honor of the man they loved. There was Broadway legend Tommy Tune, actor and children's book author John Lithgow, and New York cop Daniel Rodriguez (whose stirring rendition of "God Bless America" after 9/11 made him a singing sensation). Joining Sajak as co-host was CNN anchor Paula Zahn, who served as emcee and then surprised the audience by playing the cello beautifully. One of the evening's most magnificent moments came when Cook, Dixon & Young sang selections from Rogers' opera, "Josephine the Short-Necked Giraffe." "I missed what part of Italy they're from," cracked Sajak of the singers, formerly known as The Three Mo' Tenors. "Of course, I'm just a game show host!"

Part tribute and part benefit for the Pittsburgh Symphony orchestra, The Gala Evening of Festivities grossed more than $610,000, which would have made Mr. Rogers very happy indeed. The tiered event began for those at the patron level with dinner at the Duquesne Club. The second floor was turned over to 500 guests, who mingled during cocktails before adjourning to assorted dining rooms for a salad of exotic tossed greens, beef medallion and noisette of halibut and those trademark macaroons. It was no mean feat to serve that many dinners in so little time, but the staff made it seem effortless and unhurried. Trolleys waited outside the club to whisk the guests to Heinz Hall, where another 200 people were enjoying a buffet hosted by Pittsburgh Symphony Association president Gail Harbaugh and her husband Greg (with fare donated by 12 supportive restaurants). Then everyone joined the procession of ticketholders for the concert.

In a generous display of cross-pollination, Pittsburgh Public Theater's Ted Pappas directed the performances, and he did a terrific job of melding talents and tempos to keep the show moving at an eventful pace. Rogers' longtime musical director, Michael Moricz, arranged his compositions, which were conducted by PSO's Lucas Richman, while Nancy Byrnes Events orchestrated the gala portion. Hometown audiences could feel especially proud at the quality of the many local performers, including favorites from Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood like Chuck "Neighbor" Aber, David "Mr. McFeely" Newell, Officer Francois Clemmons and Handyman Joe Negri. Others included Billy Hartung, Frank Capelli, B.E. Taylor (as a wonderful Daniel Striped Tiger), Michael Horton, Sarah Anne Lewis, Rocky Patera, Audrey Roth and Opie Bellas. Joanne Rogers' duo-pianist partner, Jeannine Morrison, performed Chopin while opera stars Renee Fleming and Thomas Hampson made appearances via video. Add the Children's Festival Chorus and the North Star Kids, and the evening became as magical as the man who inspired it.

Honorary Chairs Elsie and Henry Hillman and County Executive Dan Onorato with Shelly joined Rogers and gala co-chairs Jim and Sharon Rohr and Jim and Suzy Broadhurst. PNC Financial Services and Eat 'n Park sponsored the evening, with PNC's Tom and Margaret Whitford and Eat 'n Park's Basil Cox and wife Jayne Adair serving as production co-chairs.

In the packed house or lingering in the Bubbleland Dessert Cabaret afterward were PSO CEO Larry Tamburri, Bishop Donald Wuerl, Family Communications' president Bill Isler with Mardi, Penn State University President Graham Spanier with Sandy, Archabbot Douglas Nowicki, Esther Barazzone, George and Janet Miles, Ed and Kathie Nicholson, Dr. Grace Ann Geibel, Tim and Audrey Hillman Fisher with daughter Nina, Max and Peggy King, Bill Trueheart and Carol Word, Jim and Susanne Wilkinson, Chuck Cohen, Glenn and Diane Meakem, Benno and Connie Bernt, Cliff Mills, Jamee Todd, BJ Leber, Ish and Mary Lou McLaughlin, Sydelle Kessler, Mildred Miller Posvar, Holly Buffinton and Victor Bove, Phil and Joan Gulley, Dr, Fred and Katy Sherman, Nancy Rackoff, Bernita Buncher, Lois Pruitt and Cynthia McCormick, Bill Dietrich and Jane Treherne-Thomas, Bill and Rose Strickland, Roy and Suzy Dorrance, Teri and Damian Soffer, Dolly and Curt Ellenberg, Greg and Ellen Jordan, Bruce and Nancy McGough, Jeff and Nancy Leininger, Joan and Jerry Apt, Leonard and Ruth Perfido, Joe Seamans, Jean and Brooks Robinson, Tom and Audrey Hilliard, Charlie and Franny Stewart, Jeff and Jacqui Morby, David and Johanna O'Loughlin, Sam Zacharias and Eva Blum, Dr. Leonard and Kathy Stept and hundreds more. Joanne Rogers was escorted by sons John and Jim, with his wife Genie.