Television's original Renaissance man, Steve Allen, entertained and then hung out with fans in Columbia as part of the Candlelight Concerts series.

During "An Evening with Steve Allen," the 77-year-old jazz artist, author and comedian sang, played the piano and answered questions from the audience of 700 at the Jim Rouse Theatre at Wilde Lake High School.

Later, at a post-show soiree held at the Vantage House Retirement Community, Allen mingled with a turnout of 250 people, which included Tom Roth, event chair; Bonita Bush, Candlelight Concerts executive director; Chuck Thomas, board president; Dennis Dunn, Holly Thomas and Bob Thulman, board members; Fran Minakowski, Maryland Public Television's head of corporate relations; George Fambro, design manager at the Rouse Co.; Glenn Charlow, Manekin Corp. broker; and Barbara Peart, Maryland Department of Agriculture administrator.

The concert and reception raised more than $25,000 for Candlelight Concerts, which presents jazz, chamber music and performing arts to children in Central Maryland.