AN EVENING OF DANCE WITH MACARTHUR FELLOWS Set for Harris Theater

The Harris Theater for Music and Dance is pleased to announce An Evening of Dance with MacArthur Fellows - a performance honoring 35 years of the iconic MacArthur Fellowship program. The performance will take place on Friday, September 16 at 7:30 PM and will be FREE TO THE PUBLIC. General admission seats are available to the public as of TODAY, August 23.

The evening will include works by MacArthur Fellows including: Merce Cunningham (1985), Mark Morris (1991), Susan Marshall (2000 - work performed by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago), Kyle Abraham (2013), and Michelle Dorrance (2015).

This performance is one in a series of events celebrating the 35th anniversary of the MacArthur Fellowship. Other programming partners for performances, discussions, and events include Washington's Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and 6th & I, New York City's Whitney Museum of American Art, The Commonwealth Club of California based in San Francisco, and Chicago's own Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago Humanities Festival, Grant Park Music Festival, and The Field Museum.

"The Harris has had the honor of presenting, and forming deep relationships with, many brilliant MacArthur Fellows who have been acknowledged by this esteemed organization," said Michael Tiknis, President and Managing Director of Harris Theater. "These are artists that everyone should have the opportunity to experience and we are so looking forward to opening our doors to the public for them to enjoy this exceptional caliber of genius and creativity at no cost."

MacArthur Foundation 35th Anniversary Celebration Program

Kyle Abraham - "Dearest Home" performed by Abraham.in.Motion

Visual-focused Choreographer who draws from identity and personal history in his work

Mark Morris - "Pacific" performed by Mark Morris Dance Group

Choreographer and Director known for his ingenuity and eclectic musical accompaniment

Merce Cunningham - "Springweather and People" performed by Erin Dowd and Forrest Hersey of the Merce Cunningham Trust

Leader of American avant-garde choreography

Susan Marshall - "Kiss" performed by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

Artistic Director and Choreographer who has created works for the Lyon Opera Ballet, Frankfurt Ballet, and Mikhail Baryshnikov

Michelle Dorrance - "Boards and Chains" performed by Dorrance Dance

Last year's Fellow and most sought after tap dancer of her generation

The MacArthur Fellowships, called "genius grants" by the media, recognize exceptionally creative individuals with a track record of achievement and the potential for significant contributions in the future. Fellows each receive a no-strings-attached stipend of $625,000, which comes with no stipulations or reporting requirements and allows recipients maximum freedom to follow their own creative visions. Since 1981, 942 people have been named MacArthur Fellows.

Fellows are selected through a rigorous process that has involved thousands of expert and anonymous nominators, evaluators, and selectors over the years. The Foundation does not accept unsolicited nominations.

A calendar of 35th anniversary events, updated regularly, is available at www.macfound.org/fellows35.

The Harris Theater's primary mission is to partner with an array of Chicago's music and dance performing arts organizations to help them build the resources and infrastructure necessary to achieve artistic growth and long-term organizational sustainability. The Harris Theater's original group of 12 resident companies has grown to include 35 diverse organizations. Through these partnerships, the Theater has earned national recognition as a distinctive model for collaboration, performance, and artistic advancement.

Opened on November 8, 2003, the Harris Theater for Music and Dance was the first multi-use performing arts venue to be built in the Chicago downtown area since 1929. Today the Theater continues to host the most diverse offerings of any venue in Chicago, featuring the city's world-renowned music and dance institutions and the Harris Theater Presents series of acclaimed national and International Artists and ensembles.

Imagine: The Campaign for Harris Theater, is a $38.8M comprehensive fundraising effort supporting the Theater's multifaceted mission. The campaign ensures the continued growth and artistic development of the Harris Theater over the next 10 years.

The Imagine campaign is led by four transformational gifts: from The Irving Harris Foundation, Joan W. Harris; Alexandra and John Nichols; Chauncey and Marion D. McCormick Family Foundation, Abby McCormick O'Neil and D. Carroll Joynes; Caryn and King Harris, The Harris Family Foundation. Additional leadership gifts supporting programmatic and capital projects have been generously funded by Jay Franke and David Herro, The Crown Family, Jack and Sandra Guthman, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Neisser Family Foundation, The Northern Trust Company, Zell Family Foundation, Laura and Ricardo Rosenkranz, Christine and Glenn Kelly, Jim and Kay Mabie, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and Marilyn and David J. Vitale.

The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust and Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust are the lead underwriters of fundraising for Imagine: The Campaign for Harris Theater.

The Harris Theater maintains a commitment to engaging Chicago residents of all ages and communities. Programs like the popular Eat to the Beat and Exelon Family Series advance access to, and understanding of, the performing arts. The Theater partners with health and human service agencies, K-12 schools, and community arts organizations, providing more than 8,800 underwritten performance tickets through the Access Tickets Program since 2009. The Theater also connects gifted young artists and students to presented artists through master classes, artist talks, and other enrichment activities.

To learn more about the Harris Theater, visit HarrisTheaterChicago.org. Call the Box Office at 312.334.7777 to request a brochure or additional information. The Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Chicago's state-of-the art 1,525-seat performance venue, can also be found on Facebook andTwitter.

••• All programs, prices, and dates are subject to change •••

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