Chicago Theatres 2011 SPRING GALA Held At JW Marriott

The League of Chicago Theatres announces the 2011 Spring Gala, an elegant, extravagant evening filled with philanthropy, food and entertainment. This one-night-only event brings together supporters from the community to champion more than 200 Chicago theatre companies. This year's event will be held on May 16, 2011, at 5:30pm in the Burnham Ballroom of the newly opened luxury hotel JW Marriott Chicago, 151 W. Adams St. in Chicago.

Highlights of the evening include cocktails and a seated dinner in the Burnham Ballroom and entertainment from select Chicago theater companies. The League will honor special community leaders who have made a great impact on Chicago theatre, including The Boeing Company, the recipient of the 2011 Tribute Award. Teatro Vista will receive the 2011 Artistic Leadership Award, to be presented to Teatro Vista Artistic Director Edward Tores by Victory Gardens Artistic Director Dennis Zacek. Two hundred fifty supporters of the League of Chicago Theatres are expected to attend.

The Co-chairs of the 2011 Gala are Les Coney (Senior Managing Director and Executive Vice President, Mesirow Financial) and Rachel Kraft (Executive Director, Lookingglass Theatre Company).

The Host Committee is still in formation and includes Henry and Leigh Bienen (Steppenwolf and Lookingglass Board Members), Deborah A. Bricker (Goodman Lifetime Trustee), Patricia Cox (Goodman Board Chair) and Lisa Naparstek Green (Lookingglass Board Chair).

As a shining example of good corporate citizenry, the League of Chicago Theatres is honored to bestow the 2011 Tribute Award to The Boeing Company. As a major Chicago-based corporation, The Boeing Company has made a lasting impact on Chicago's theatre industry. Through sponsorships and investments in innovative projects and productions, Boeing's Global Corporate Citizenship Team continues to champion the creativity that makes Chicago the epicenter of American theatre. Believing that arts and culture are economic engines of our communities, Boeing has provided generous funds for projects at both large and small theatre companies throughout Chicago. This investment helps to stimulate the creative communities and vibrant city-life that helps them recruit top employees.

The League is proud to honor Teatro Vista with the 2011 Artistic Leadership Award. Now in its 21st season, Teatro Vista was founded by current Artistic Director Edward Torres and Goodman Resident Artistic Associate and Artistic Director of Northwestern University's Theatre and Interpretation Center Henry Godinez in 1990 to give a home to stories that reflect the universality of our humanity from a Latino perspective, and provide new opportunities for Latino actors, writers and directors. Over the past two decades, Teatro Vista has established itself as a leader in the Chicago theatre community, frequently partnering with Goodman, Steppenwolf, and Victory Gardens Theaters, while picking up 15 Jeff Awards along the way. The most recent triumph was a 2009 co-production of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity with Victory Gardens Theater that received critical praise, sold out crowds and earned Jeff Awards for Best Production, New Work,
Director and Actor.

The winner of the 2011 Broadway In Chicago Emerging Theater Award will accept the award at the event.The finalists were selected by a panel of theater professionals and will be voted upon by League membership, include 16th Street Theater, The New Colony, Theatre Seven of Chicago, Theater Wit and Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre. The award provides $5,000, consultation with Broadway In Chicago staff members, and a marketing package that includes advertising support. The award was created in 2007 to encourage, support and promote young theaters in Chicago that have demonstrated great ability and promise, artistic excellence and fiscal responsibility in business practices.

Individual tickets are $300. All proceeds from ticket sales and contributions directly support the League's programs and services to over 200 Chicago theatre companies. Sponsorships are still available. For more information and tickets, contact Ryan Butts, Deputy Director, 312-554-9804 or ryan@chicagoplays.com.

About Chicago theater
Chicago is the cultural leader in the U.S. with the largest and most diverse theater community that produces more world premieres than anywhere else in the world. Chicagoland boasts more than 250 professional theaters and consists of a rich and varied community ranging from storefront, non-union theaters to the most renowned resident theaters in the country, including 4 which have been honored with Regional Tony Awards, and the largest touring Broadway organization in the nation. Chicago's theaters serve 5 million audience members annually and have a combined budget of more than $250 million - and no other city in the country has such a creative, respected and thriving theater community. Chicago's theater industry, with both its exceptional theater and an extraordinary talent pool, has long been the envy of the world's top theater cities and is second to none in number and innovation.

The League of Chicago Theatres' Mission Statement
The League of Chicago Theatres is an alliance of theaters which leverages its collective strength to promote, support and advocate for Chicago's theater industry locally, nationally and internationally. The League of Chicago Theatres Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the art of theater in the Chicago area through audience development and support services for theaters and theater professionals.

The League of Chicago Theatres Board of Directors
The League of Chicago Theatres Board of Directors is Eileen LaCario, Chair (Vice President, Broadway in Chicago); Rachel Kraft, Vice Chair (Executive Director, Lookingglass Theatre Company); Brian Loevner, Secretary (Managing Director, Chicago Dramatists); Brett Batterson, Treasurer (Executive Director, Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University); David Hawkanson, Founder Chair (Executive Director, Steppenwolf Theatre Company); Julie Burros (Director of Cultural Planning, City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events); Les Coney (Senior Managing Director, Executive Vice President, Mesirow Financial); Dennis Culloton (Founder, CEO and President, Culloton Strategies); Tim Evans (Executive Director, Northlight Theatre); Aurélia Fisher; Criss Henderson (Executive Director, Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Jan Kallish (Executive Director, Victory Gardens Theater); Kate Lipuma (Executive Director, Writers' Theatre); Diana Martinez (President, Second City International); Peter Moore (Artistic/Executive Director, Steep Theatre Company); James D. Palmer (Artistic Director, Red Tape Theatre Company); Francesca Pepiatt (Managing Director, Stockyards Theatre Project); Alan Salzenstein (Performing Arts Management Coordinator, DePaul University); Heather Schmucker (Producing Director, American Music Theatre Project at Northwestern University); Roche Schulfer (Executive Director, Goodman Theatre); Jeremy Weschler (Artistic Director, Theatre Wit); and Greg Werstler (Managing Director, ComedySportz of Chicago).

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