Steppenwolf Auxiliary Council Hosts 2014 RED OR WHITE BALL Tonight

Hundreds of Chicago's young arts supporters gather for a high-energy evening of music, dancing, cocktails, impressive local cuisine and auction at Steppenwolf Auxiliary Council's 2014 Red or White Ball tonight, March 28, 2014 at 9pm, with the highly anticipated VIP Reception beginning at 7:30pm. The signature event for the city's most active young professionals will be hosted at Chicago's sleek, contemporary Venue One (1044 W Randolph St). Proceeds from the Red or White Ball benefit Steppenwolf for Young Adults, the theater's nationally recognized arts education program, which annually impacts more than 15,000 students, teachers and families. This year's event takes it to the next level, in line with the Steppenwolf for Young Adults' production, Leveling Up.

Tickets to the Red or White Ball are on sale now, and can be purchased online at steppenwolf.org/rowb, via e-mail at auxiliarycouncil@steppenwolf.org or by calling 312-654-5623. Individual tickets are $125. A limited number of $250 VIP tickets are also available and include an exclusive cocktail reception at 7:30pm featuring tasting stations from CH Distillery, Freestyle, Geja's Café, RA sushi and Summer House Santa Monica, VIP gift bags, special access to Steppenwolf artists and VIP status all night long. This year's main event offers tasting stations from hot Chicago restaurants including Taco Joint and Café Ba-Ba-Reeba!, multiple open bars, a superb wine selection from City Winery and beer from Goose Island, a photo booth from Fotio to capture the night's best moments, DJ and dancing, plus a late-night after party for all attendees.

The 2014 Red or White Ball Honorary Chair is ensemble member Tarell Alvin McCraney, playwright of Head of Passes, which premiered at Steppenwolf last season, and The Brother/Sister Plays, produced at Steppenwolf in 2010. McCraney was also a recipient of a 2013 MacArthur Fellowship and was included in Crain's Chicago Business's 2013 "40 under 40." The 2014 Red or White Ball Chair is Jennifer Stuart. Co-Chairs include Aimee Graham, Ryan Stafford and Tanya Stanfield.

Raffle prizes for the 2014 Ball include a Kindle Fire, a romantic "stay-cation" at Hotel Lincoln with dinner for two at Geja's Café, and an exclusive Steppenwolf Opening Night package with pre-show dinner, opening performance and after-party with artists from the show. Highlights from the auction include a group distillery tour at Koval, custom made suit from Tom James company and a weekend getaway to New York with airfare.

Last year's Red or White Ball raised more than $80,000 for Steppenwolf's nationally recognized arts education programming. Steppenwolf for Young Adults is a comprehensive educational initiative that annually serves 15,000 students, teachers and families. The program provides access to the theater for a broad base of Chicago's youth, ages 12 - 19, and schools throughout the Chicago metropolitan area with a strong focus on partnering with Chicago Public Schools.

Steppenwolf for Young Adults' unique approach combines play production with educational components to enhance arts education for young audiences, as well as their teachers and families. SYA creates two full-scale professional productions each season specifically for teens. Working closely with the Chicago Public and metropolitan area schools and other community partners, SYA annually ensures access to the theater for more than 12,000 participants from Chicago's diverse communities. The initiative also includes post-show discussions with artists; classroom residencies led by Steppenwolf-trained teaching artists in more than 30 classrooms in 12 public high schools; professional development workshops for educators; and the Young Adult Council, an innovative year-round after school initiative that uniquely engages high school students in all areas of the theater's operations.

The Steppenwolf Auxiliary Council is a dynamic group of young professionals dedicated to civic leadership. The Council is made up of more than 100 energetic leaders with a shared mission to support Steppenwolf's arts education program for high school students. Since its inception in 2000, the Auxiliary Council has raised nearly $1.5 million in contributions.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is America's longest standing, most distinguished ensemble theater, producing nearly 700 performances and events annually in its three Chicago theater spaces-the 515-seat Downstairs Theatre, the 299-seat Upstairs Theatre and the 80-seat Garage Theatre. Formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, Steppenwolf has grown into an ensemble of 43 actors, writers and directors. Artistic programming at Steppenwolf includes a five-play Subscription Season, a two-play Steppenwolf for Young Adults season and two repertory series: First Look Repertory of New Work and Garage Rep. While firmly grounded in the Chicago community, nearly 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success both nationally and internationally, including Off-Broadway, Broadway, London, Sydney and Dublin. Steppenwolf has the distinction of being the only theater to receive the National Medal of Arts, in addition to numerous other prestigious honors including an Illinois Arts Legend Award and 12 Tony Awards. Martha Lavey is the Artistic Director and David Hawkanson is the Executive Director. Nora Daley is Chair of Steppenwolf's Board of Trustees. For additional information, visit steppenwolf.org, facebook.com/steppenwolftheatre and twitter.com/steppenwolfthtr.

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