The Gift Theatre's GIFT GALA 2018: The Next Chapter to Be Held November 14 At American Writers Museum

The Gift Theatre is pleased to present its 17th annual benefit, Gift Gala 2018: The Next Chapter, an evening of literature and libations, Wednesday, November 14, 2018 from 6 pm - 9:30 pm at one of Chicago's most exciting new cultural institutions: American Writers Museum, 180 N. Michigan Ave., 2nd Floor, in Chicago. Tickets and sponsorships are currently available at thegifttheatre.org or by calling (773) 283-7071.

The elegant evening begins at 6 pm with a VIP Reception featuring live music by cellist Melissa Bach and guitarist David Onderdonk, and vintage spirits curated by Kristopher Peterson, Spirits Archivist at Mordecai inside Hotel Zachary near Wrigley Field. Peterson's creations will include vintage bottles from 2001, in celebration of The Gift Theatre's inaugural year. At 7 pm, join the Gift family for the Main Event including cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and dessert, a silent auction and a reading by award-winning Chicago author Megan Stielstra.

This Gift Gala Honorary Co-Chairs are Marj Halperin and Jeff Perry. Halperin served as President and CEO of the League of Chicago Theatres for nearly 10 years, positioning Chicago's live theater industry as a high-profile brand recognized internationally for talent and innovation. She also provided leadership support for Mayor Richard M. Daley, then-Illinois Treasurer Pat Quinn, the Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Park District. Jeff Perry stars on ABC's Scandal and Grey's Anatomy and co-founded Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre.

All proceeds from Gift Gala will help The Gift Theatre write its next organizational chapter: one of transformation and growth. With every word, scene and play, The Gift is rewriting the story of American theatre by producing nationally-acclaimed works with a renowned ensemble, all inside a space that is our country's most intimate professional theatre.

Megan Stielstra is the author of three collections: the award-winning The Wrong Way To Save Your Life, Once I Was Cool and Everyone Remain Calm. Her work appears in the Best American Essays, New York Times, Poets & Writers, The Believer, Longreads, Tin House, Guernica, Catapult, Lit Hub, Buzzfeed Reader, The Rumpus and elsewhere. A longtime company member with 2nd Story, she has told stories for National Public Radio, Radio National Australia, Museum of Contemporary Art, Goodman Theatre, the Neo-Futurarium, and regularly with The Paper Machete live news magazine at The Green Mill. She is currently an artist in residence at Northwestern University.

Kristopher Peterson got his start in hospitality out in Los Angeles with Wolfgang Puck in the late '90s. He's run beverage programs across a variety of concepts over the past 20 years, and remains an avid spirits reviewer - tallying up over 1,000 formal tasting notes from Haitian clairins to Prohibition medicinal pints and everything in between. In his spare time, he also enjoys creative writing and has had plays performed at the Kennedy Center, Joseph Beuys Theater in Moscow, as well as throughout the U.S. This past year, his short play Pick Up Beds was published by Smith and Kraus as part of When the Promise was Broken. Currently, he's the Spirits Archivist at Mordecai inside Hotel Zachary across from Wrigley Field, charged with the curation, education and documentation of their vintage spirits program.

The Gift's 17th season includes a revival of John Patrick Shanley's Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning drama Doubt: A Parable directed by Ensemble Member John Gawlik (February 27 - March 31); the world premiere of Hansol Jung's Wolf Play, directed by guest artist Jess McLeod (October 18 - November 24); as well as a soon-to-be announced third production (July 12 - August 18). Season subscriptions are available for as little as $75. The Gift subscribers ("Gifters") receive admission to three shows, free parking at Gale Street Inn, free admission to all Wednesday night "Natural Gas" improv shows and invitations to special subscriber-only special events. Subscribe at www.thegifttheatre.org or by calling (773) 283-7071.

Photo: Gift Gala Entertainment - The Gift Gala 2018 will feature (left to right) award-winning Chicago author Megan Stielstra, cellist Melissa Bach and guitarist David Onderdonk.

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