Last week was the League of Chicago Theatres(opens in new tab) benefit and it was a great party. The League honored some of my favorite people and Chicago greats including Criss Henderson and Barbara Gaines from Chicago Shakespeare(opens in new tab), Janet Davies from ABC7(opens in new tab) and Marcelle McVay from Victory Gardens Theater(opens in new tab). It was like the “Who’s Who?” of Chicago theater. What I loved most about the evening was the acknowledgement of a theatre community that, since the 1970s, has been a tight knit family. Never could you imagine so many people working in the same business who are all so in love with not what each of us does but what the collective creates. Like any family, over three decades, we have had our battles, egos and best of all dramas, but in the end “we are a family.”
In addition, Broadway In Chicago awarded the third annual Emerging Theatre Award. The 2009 recipient was the side project(opens in new tab) and Adam Webster, founder and Artistic Director, accepted the award. This award means a lot to Broadway In Chicago. Not only is it an opportunity for Broadway In Chicago to contribute financially to young company but to be able to interact throughout the year with valuable guidance. This is also a time for the entire community to acknowledge a company that is poised to go to the next step. This is a very special award as it is one of the few that is chosen by the company’s peers in the industry.
The evening was topped off when Dominic Scaglione Jr., star of JERSEY BOYS(opens in new tab), sang “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” to Janet Davies, who was given the Tribute Award(opens in new tab). She is definitely “too good to be true.” Following Dominic was a performance from our own Elle Woods, Becky Gulsvig(opens in new tab).
Couple of notes –
- Don’t wait or you will be out of luck! See LEGALLY BLONDE(opens in new tab) and MARY POPPINS(opens in new tab) – the both only have a few weeks left.
- JERSEY BOYS(opens in new tab) is about to celebrate its 1 millionth patron. If you haven’t seen it yet, go now or if you are hoping to see it again, now is the time. You could be the 1 millionth patron and who knows what we will do for this honored customer!
-Eileen
