About Face Theatre Celebrates 17th Year with Tonight's Circus Gala

About Face Theatre celebrates its 17th year with a three-ring party of colossal entertainment at WONKA BALL 2013: CIRCUS MAXIMUS tonight, April 26, 2013 at 8-11 p.m. (Ringmaster's VIP Cocktail Party at 7 p.m.). Hosted by About Face board members, Benjamin Sprunger and Billy Lullo, WONKA BALL 2013: CIRCUS MAXIMUS features a silent auction, open bar, food, music, dancing and performances.

The annual gala also includes the presentation of the prestigious 2013 Leppen Leadership Awards and the About Face Youth Theatre MVP Award. This year's guests will be among the first to meet About Face's new, soon-to-be-announced Artistic Director. AFT's premier fundraiser combines the surprising delights of the big top with the inspired grandeur of this year's venue, Chicago's Architectural Artifacts (4325 N. Ravenswood Ave).

Tickets are $135 general admission. Ringmaster's VIP Cocktail Party: $135 event ticket + $100 tax deductible donation. For tickets, visit www.aboutfacetheatre.com or 773-784-8565.

About Face Theatre's VIP supporters will be special guests at the exclusive Ringmaster's VIP Cocktail Party beginning at 7 p.m. and hosted by AFT board members Drew Kent and Rob Abernathy. VIP guests will enjoy early access to the venue with an exclusive cocktail party, sumptuous culinary treats, special "sideshow" entertainments, the opportunity for early bidding at the silent auction and intimate access to the About Face leadership and artists. VIP supporters will also enjoy prime viewing of center-ring performances from the lavish Ringmaster's Lounge exclusively reserved from 7 - 9 p.m.

Proceeds from the WONKA BALL support About Face Theatre programming including its groundbreaking Youth Theatre, which creates critically acclaimed new work by and about LGBTQA youth and their allies. The Youth Theatre has performed on major stages across the country, and, through its outreach tour, changes the lives of thousands of young people each year. AFT also boasts its annual, award-winning main stage season and the ambitious XYZ Festival of New Works.

Named for About Face Youth Theatre supporter Michael Leppen, the annual Leppen Leadership Awards recognize those whose efforts on behalf of About Face Theatre and the LGBTQA community empower youth leaders to take action and encourage LGBTQA adults and youth to create intergenerational dialogue and understanding. The About Face Youth Theatre MVP Award is given to an outstanding youth theatre ensemble member for exceptional service to the company and to the greater LGBTQ community. The recipient has proven herself or himself to be exceptionally dedicated to the mission of our work and has gone beyond her or his duties as an ensemble member to better the experience of other Youth Theatre participants.

About Face Theatre is one of Chicago's most acclaimed theatre companies and is a national leader in the development of new work exploring gender and sexual identity. Since its founding by Kyle Hall and Eric Rosen in 1995, the company has premiered more than 45 world premieres by writers and directors who have been recognized with several Tony Awards, The Pulitzer Prize for Drama, The MacArthur Fellowship and dozens of Joseph Jefferson Awards.

Visit www.aboutfacetheatre.com for more information.

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