LUSH LIFE: THE MUSIC OF BILLY STRAYHORN Set for the Auditorium Theatre Tonight

The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University presents Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn tonight, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m.

The event is the culmination of The Billy Strayhorn Festival, a three month long city wide music festival celebrating the 100th birthday of the late Billy Strayhorn. The Festival began with the Chicago Jazz Festival, Friday, Sept. 4 in Millennium Park, continues with performances and educational panels at various jazz clubs and other locations throughout Chicago before its final performance and gala celebration on the Auditorium Theatre's landmark stage with Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn.

Tickets for Lush Life start at $29 and are currently on sale online at AuditoriumTheatre.org, by phone at (312) 341-2300 or in-person at the Auditorium Theatre Box Office (50 E. Congress Parkway). Subscriptions for the Auditorium Theatre's 2015 - 16 season and discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more are also on sale. For more information visit AuditoriumTheatre.org.

That same evening, the Auditorium Theatre hosts their annual Gala benefiting the Auditorium Theatre. The Gala features cocktails and dinner in the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave, followed by the performance of Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn. The Gala begins with cocktails at 5 p.m. and features dinner entertainment by Orbert Davis and The Rich Daniels Quintet playing a Billy Strayhorn program. After dinner, guests will continue on to the Auditorium Theatre in VIP seating for the performance beginning at 8 p.m. Gala tickets begin at $500 and tables start at $5000. For further information, contact Amanda Byrne at (312) 341-2364 or abyrne@auditoriumtheatre.org. Honorary Chairs for The Billy Strayhorn Festival are Alyce and Rochelle Claerbaut. Event chairs include Bruce Bachmann, Sidney and Sondra Berman Epstein, Dave Samber and Darrell Windle.

"We've been amazed at how the city of Chicago has embraced the life and music of this iconic jazz legend through our Billy Strayhorn Festival," said Executive Director Brett Batterson. "We started with the very first concert at the Chicago Jazz Festival and it's been so rewarding experiencing the music of Strayhorn at some of the most lively and eclectic jazz halls in this great city. This ground-breaking final celebration on the Auditorium Theatre stage is a performance we'll be talking about for years to come."

Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn is under the musical direction of Bruce Mayhall

Rastrelli and is a fully staged salute to Strayhorn featuring Broadway star Darius de Haas and local cabaret icon Joan Curto with Alan Broadbent on piano, the Auditorium's Too Hot to Handel Orchestra, Joel Hall Dancers and a 30-voice-all-male choir arranged by conductor Bill Chin.

The Lead Foundation Supporter for The Billy Strayhorn Festival is THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST with additional support provided by THE JOYCE FOUNDATION.

The Billy Strayhorn Festival Gala Celebration is sponsored by the PASQUINELLI FAMILY FOUNDATION.

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