Cormarama packed The Garrison with musicians, journalists and friends to help save Derek McCormack’s life

Spirits were high at Cormarama at The Garrison on Tuesday night, with the New York Times arts editor Adam Sternbergh, Toronto Life’s editor-in-chief Sarah Fulford, Globe arts editor Gabe Gonda, musicians Joe Pernice, Matthew Barber, Doug Paisley and Jason Collett and writers Nathalie Atkinson, Jason McBride, Claudia Dey and Stephen Marche helping raise funds for author Derek McCormack. Over 300 people attended the event, and unlike most functions, which take some time to get into full swing, the bar was packed by 7:30 p.m. Despite the circumstances behind the event (McCormack is suffering from a rare form of cancer), friends and strangers sipped spirits merrily as they listened to readings from Sheila Heti, who crafted a great monologue mixing McCormack interview snippets with Lana Del Ray lyrics (McCormack is a fan of the collagen-lipped songstress), and Joey Comeau, who performed a rather macabre (but hilarious) oration that fictionalized the murders of Margaret Atwood and Anne Marie Macdonald. Those unable to attend the event can still buy art or make a donation at Art for Derek.

Check out the party »

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(Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

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There was revelry (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

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Some of the 300-plus guests who attended Cormarama (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

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Author Howard Akler does a reading (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

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April Dick (featuring Tony Burgess and Chuck Baker) (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

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<em>New York Times</em> arts editor Adam Sternbergh and Jason McBride (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

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Joey Comeau tells a dark (and hilarious) tale (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

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Claudia Dey offers a bit of entertainment (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

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Sheila Heti gives a reading (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

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Musician Jason Collett (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

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Musician Doug Paisley (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

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Writer Jason McBride reads aloud (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

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The cast of <em>Haunted Hillbilly</em> messes around in the photo booth (Image: Erin Simkin)

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Musician Matthew Barber (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

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Author and musician Joe Pernice (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

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Matthew Barber and Alexis Taylor (from the <em>Haunted Hillbilly</em> cast) (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)<br />

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Matthew Barber and Gemma James-Smith (from the <em>Haunted Hillbilly</em> cast) (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)<br />

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