Spring Gala celebrates Chicago theaters....
"Showtime 2005!", the seventh annual Gala presented by the League of Chicago Theatres Foundation, is one gala not to be overlooked. Always a highly anticipated event, this year's gala takes place on Monday, May 9, at the Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., and will honor some very special people involved in the theater community, plus some very "special entertainment."
The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail reception, followed by a luscious supper buffet catered by Chicago's best restaurants.
Other festivities include raffles, the awards presentations and a special performance by Jim Belushi and his son Robert in a vintage Second City skit. The entertainment also includes a one-night-only performance by some of the best actors in our very own theater scene. Post-show dessert parties are scheduled for 8:30 p.m. I am told a "very decadent" Sarah Lee dessert reception follows, held in a private VIP green room for special guests, performers, and honorees, and including a martini bar and an assortment of desserts by Sara Lee.
The evening's "Unlock the Stage Door" raffle features 100 prizes that include theater tickets, shopping sprees, nights out on the town, celebrity memorabilia and "surprise packages."
More than 600 guests are expected at the fund-raiser including philanthropists, civic, business and industry leaders. Also attending are art patrons and artists.
The special awards that will be bestowed on the honorees at "Showtime 2005" include the "2005 Tribute Award" to the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for support and unsurpassed devotion. The 2005 Artistic Leadership Award will be presented to Russ Tutterow, Artistic Director of Chicago Dramatists, for creating great art, inspiring other artists and thrusting Chicago's theater scene into the national spotlight.
A Special Recognition Award will be bestowed on Marj Halperin who has been devoted to theater and who is leaving the league at the end of this year. Her recognition comes due to her tireless work and devotion as President and CEO of the 170-member League of Chicago Theatres (Chicago's trade and marketing association for live theater). She joined the League in 1997, was responsible for launching the Chicagoplays theater program magazine, and has worked in many positions within the theater community and in communications. She can be heard as guest news anchor on WXRT Radio.
This year's gala committee is co-chaired by Andrew Alexander, Second City Exec. Producer and CEO; Nick Rabkin, Exec. Director of Chicago Center for Arts Policy at Columbia College Chicago; Stuart and Harvey Burstein and their Burstein Family Foundation.
Sounds great, doesn't it!
For additional information on "Showtime 2005!", phone the League of Chicago Theatres Development Office at (312) 554-9800 or visit www.chicagoplays.com, or read on for three different price levels for an individual ticket. An individual ticket for the event only with "Balcony Seating" is $100; a ticket guaranteed for "Main Floor Seating" is $250; and a ticket that includes a pass to the incredible Dessert Reception held in the VIP-only Green Room is $325.
'Jump High' Benefit...
Actor, celebrity and former Chicagoan George Wendt headlines “An Evening of Laughter" when he joins the cast of Second City at a benefit for High Jump Academy on Thursday, May 12, at The Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave.
The evening gets under way at 6 p.m. with cocktails, followed by dinner and the performance by Wendt and Second City.
The “Evening of Laughter” benefits the High Jump Enrichment Program on the Near North Side, which is a tuition-free program for talented middle-school kids whose families have limited finances.
Co-chairs Lori Crosley and Nick Pontikes hope the event will raise more than the $200,000 they raised at the 2003 benefit.
A ticket for the “Evening” is $250 and includes cocktails, dinner and performance. To purchase a ticket or for more information on High Jump programs, call Stephanie Mayer at (312) 582-7704 or e-mail her at smayer@highjumpchicago.org.
High Jump has been around since 1989 and has graduated over 400 students who have all gone on to universities and top college prep schools.
'Superheroes' to be saluted...
You don’t need to dress like “The Hulk,” “Superman,” “Batman,” or “Spiderman,” or resemble any cartoon crusader, because the real-life Super Heroes attending the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation Black-Tie gala are the supporters who help by donating funds or time or by attending the fund-raiser on Saturday, May 14, to help seriously ill children and their families.
In fact, none of the attending guests will be dressed as “Superheroes,” but donning their finest formal attire for the evening. “A Salute to Superheroes” takes place at The Fairmont Hotel, 200 N. Columbus Dr., beginning at 6 p.m. with an out-of-this world cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception.
Just before dinner is served, guests will be able to participate in a silent auction where they can bid on sensational jewelry, furs, vacations and one-of-kind opportunities. Then they can walk through “The Hallway of Heroes” where they can sign on to support any of Starlight’s many programs and services. And there is more!
An over-the-top-elegant sit-down dinner will be served after the silent auction. After dinner, there are still additional events yet to come like dessert and then dancing to the music of Bill Pollack Orchestra or participating the live auction. Items set to bid on include a sheared mink jacket, or a day at Bears camp on Media Day with General Manager Jerry Angelo, Coach Lovie Smith and the players too. There’s also a pool table, a foosball table and a poker table.
Did I mention the 100 decoder rings to be raffled ($50) for a night out to dinner worth $250 — plus you’ll be driven by your chauffeur in your (for the night) limousine. Your ticket could also win the $1,500 Ultra Jewelry Gift Certificate.
For additional information about the “Salute” benefit for Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation or to purchase a ticket to the gala ($300), please contact the Foundation at (312) 251-7827, ext. 14, or visit www.starlightmidwest.org.
Bubbly Brunch Benefit...
Galleria Marchetti is the “place,” champagne is the “taste,” and it’s not lunch, it’s “brunch” on Sunday, May 15, when supporters of Remy Bumppo Theatre Company gather for the “Third Annual Bumppo Benefit Bubbly Brunch.” It’s not just a hunch.
The fun begins at noon when guests begin to arrive within the Tuscan-inspired Pavilion at Galleria Marchetti, 825 W. Erie St. The lavish champagne brunch includes Frittata del Giorno, Smoked Salmon and a tremendous assortment of mini-pastries and other delicacies. During the Brunch Joe Kregor will entertain guests with his piano playing and Remy Bumppo Artistic Associates will entertain by performing a comedy review of songs and sketches.
Guests can also participate in the silent auction by bidding on wine baskets; engraved crystal champagne flutes; a backstage tour of CBS TV-studio; and lunch at the Traders Club with the Chair of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange with a private tour of the Exchange.
For information about the brunch, to purchase a ticket ($100-$150), or to find out more about future theater productions, phone Kristen Larsen, Managing Director, at (773) 244-8119. Proceeds from the brunch support productions and programs of the theater company.
Second Annual Benefit...
Gourmet Magazine presents its Second Annual “Gourmet Wine Cellar,” a food and wine lovers' dream that benefits Share our Strength on Thursday, May 19, at the River East Arts Center, 435 E. Illinois St.
At 6 p.m. foodies will converge on the River East Arts Center to get a tasting of food from some of our greatest chefs, as well as the opportunity to sample hundreds of wines presented by top sommeliers, to watch cooking demonstrations and to partake in informative discussions and seminars.
Sound great? It gets even better with Sara Moulton, Gourmet Magazine's Executive Chef and host of the Food Network’s “Sara’s Secrets”; and Michael Green, Gourmet Magazine's wine and spirit consultant; who are teaming up with Chicago’s great chefs including Rick Tramonto of Tru, Michael Kornick of MK, Tony Matuano and Missy Robbins of Spiaggia and many others. Guests will eat and drink the benefits of the best of the best.
For additional information about Gourmet Magazine’s Wine Cellar benefit or to purchase a ticket ($100), phone (800) 679-0397 or visit www.gourmetscoop.com/wine cellar.
A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to “Share Our Strength,” a nonprofit organization that provides food assistance and nutrition education and treats malnutrition. The Chicago area recipients of Share Our Strength events include: The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Illinois Hunger Coalition, Near North Health Service Corp., and Vital Bridges.
Women’s Board presents 26th Annual...
Emmy Award-winning actress Megan Mullally will headline an elegant evening of entertainment on Saturday, May 21, when the Women’s Board of the Goodman Theatre presents its 26th Annual Goodman Gala at the Fairmont Hotel, 200 N. Columbus Dr.
Guests clad in black-ties and formal gowns will arrive at The Fairmont at 6:30 p.m. and glide into the spectacular Imperial Ballroom for the lavish cocktail reception and entertainment by Megan Mullally (who plays Karen Walker on the hit TV-show “Will and Grace”). Mullally will perform with her band Supreme Music Program and sing a variety of songs.
After the performance, guests will be invited to relax and enjoy an delectable dinner and then dancing to the music of the Gentlemen of Leisure Orchestra.
The gala evening is co-chaired by Helen Ashley and Sherry John, with Honorary Co-Chairs the Honorable and Mrs. Richard M. Daley, along with Gala Sponsor Partners Katherine A. Abelson, Sharon and Charles Angell, Carol Prins and John Hart, and Alice and John Sable, with many corporate sponsors.
A World Travel Raffle sponsored by the Women’s Board and American Airlines will be held after dinner and the lucky ticket holders will be eligible to win first class/business class round-trip tickets to any American Airlines destination in the world. Other trips include tickets to anywhere in Latin America, Hawaii, the Caribbean or anywhere in the Continental U.S. that American flies.
For additional information or to purchase a gala ticket ($500-$1,000) or make a reservation, call Leslie Garner at (312) 443-3811, ext. 586.
The Women’s Board of the Goodman Theatre raises about $1 million annually through its many fund-raising efforts throughout the year to support the Goodman Theatre and its productions and programs.
“Wicked” is and isn’t...
The City of Chicago has lucked out - or was it luck? Instead of getting a road show of the three-time Tony Award-winning Musical “Wicked,” we were lucky enough to get our own resident company opening on Thursday, May 5, at the Ford Center-Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St.
“Wicked" is the pre-quel to the “Wizard of Oz.” It is the story of the two girls who meet in “Oz.” One is beautiful, ambitious and popular. The other is misunderstood and quite smart — and has emerald-green skin. The unlikely friends become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.
The show has good promise and though I haven’t seen it as of press time, I hear through my sources that it is quite entertaining.
Tickets range in price from $25-$85. But you might be one of the lucky ones and get a seat in the front or second row for only $25 each.
Why? Drawings will be held on the day of the show two hours prior to the performance. You must be present to win and winners will have the option to purchase one or two tickets for $25 each. The drawing takes place on Thursday, May 4, at the Ford Center-Oriental Theatre Box Office. After that the drawings will be held solely at Borders Books & Music at 150 N. State St. (adjacent to the theater) and only on performance dates. If you win you need cash to purchase and a photo-ID
is required.
“Wicked" is recommended for children age 8 and up. and everyone must have their own ticket. I have also been told that no children under five will
be admitted. |
