Move, Members, Move!

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Robert Battle's Awakening. Photo by Paul Kolnik.

With the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater season just concluded in New York, we are anticipating the Company’s annual return to Chicago, March 8-13, 2016. In honor of this occasion, the Auditorium Theatre Board of Directors would like to invite you to join a group devoted to helping the Auditorium present the Ailey company live on our landmark stage.

Please join us for an “Ailey Circle Members” evening on Monday, March 7—an elegant private reception with Artistic Director Robert Battle to be held at Seven Lions, located at 130 S. Michigan Ave.

If you have never met Robert Battle, get ready to enjoy the company of a relaxed, funny, generous and beautiful artist. During their run at the Auditorium, the Company will perform Awakening (2015), Battle’s first world premiere for the Ailey company since becoming artistic director in 2011.

Of the making of Awakening company dancer Megan Jakel writes:

There are moments that remind us of Martha Graham, moments of Merce Cunningham, moments of Paul Taylor, all infused into [Robert’s] signature ritualistic style. He readily acknowledges these influences, saying last week that in the first section of the work he was “a little between Cunningham and people that make stories,” meaning he was bridging the abstract and direct storytelling.

The Auditorium Theatre has proudly been the Ailey company’s Chicago home for over 46 years. With your $350* “Ailey Circle Member” gift to the Auditorium today, you will enjoy: 

• A private reception with Artistic Director Robert Battle and other “Ailey Circle Members” at 6pm on Monday, March 7, 2016 at Chicago’s Seven Lions
• One prime ticket to an Ailey company performance
• Recognition as an “Ailey Circle Member” 
• Access to The Adler Room and its amenities the night of your selected performance

We look forward to celebrating dance with you on March 7.

The Auditorium Theatre Board

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To become an “Ailey Circle Member” please call Judie Green today at 312.341.2397. We will be happy to accommodate your ticketing arrangements. Thank you!

*Ailey Circle Memberships benefit the Auditorium Theatre. Amount of your Ailey Circle Member gift, less $170.00 per person (good faith estimate of goods and services), is tax-deductible as allowed by law. 

Thank you, Michael!

Michael Goldberger, Echo Society Member & Volunteer Usher 

You may recognize Michael Goldberger from your attendance at Auditorium presentations- he’s been a volunteer usher with us for nearly 20 years. And in his story of finding enjoyment and inspiration here, you may also recognize a bit of your own.

Originally from Plainview, Long Island, Michael earned his BS in Business Administration from C.W. Post Center of Long Island University. This beginning is quite far from the Auditorium Theatre, wouldn’t you say?

Well, Michael also stayed close to his birthplace at the start of his insurance career, underwriting specialized commercial lines of Boiler & Machinery with The Home Insurance Company out of New York City. But then, in 1984, Michael took the opportunity to transfer:

It’s funny—I grew up in New York and never felt comfortable there. As soon as I moved to Chicago, I felt at home. About 18 years ago a friend introduced me to ushering on a volunteer basis. The first time I ushered at the Auditorium was for a performance of the Joffrey Ballet in 1998. I have been a fan of the Joffrey and the Auditorium ever since.

And in addition to the performing arts, Michael is also interested in architecture, so you can understand how the history, beauty and acoustics of the Auditorium captured his imagination and keeps him close:

It’s wonderful that the building is so well maintained and preserved. I love that in addition to dance, incredible shows and music are presented here. I’ve seen “Les Misérables,” “Sister Act,” “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,” and so many others and am always amazed at how the staging blows me away every time. I’ve also enjoyed 'Too Hot to Handel' (twice).

Now, more than thirty years since he first moved to Chicago, we at the Auditorium are proud to consider Michael among our closest friends. You see, Michael became a member of The Echo Society when he informed the Auditorium of his decision to include the Auditorium in his will:

“Looking at my estate planning, I thought about what was important to me – what gave me pleasure. I wanted to give back to the Auditorium in some way for the enjoyment I received from the performances I’ve attended, and found The Echo Society."

With his membership in The Echo Society, Michael Goldberger is not only applauding one of his favorite places, he is preserving the true purpose of the this National Historic Landmark and beauty for which it is known.

"I just wanted to do something nice for the Auditorium, since I’ve gotten so much enjoyment from every visit here. Knowing that what I leave will be put to good use so others can enjoy it in the future makes me feel good.” 

Thank you, Michael!

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For information on how you can join Michael as a member of The Echo Society, and to discuss the variety of planned giving options with the Auditorium Theatre, please call 312.341.2397.

Taj, Tigers & Temples - Come explore India with us!

A Trip to India with the Auditorium Theatre
October 13-23, 2016

Join your friends from the Auditorium this October for an exquisite travel experience.

Together, we’ll spend 11 days and 10 nights exploring India's treasures, from the timeless beauty of the Taj Mahal at full moon to the graceful power of the elusive Bengal tiger. We’ll witness a religious ceremony at a sacred temple and explore the sights and smells of an exotic spice market. Discover with us the culture of India through a Bollywood Show, a puppet show, and a cooking demonstration and private dinner in a nobleman’s home.

Itinerary includes Luxury Accommodations in

New Delhi * Agra * Ranthambore * Jaipur * Udaipur * Mumbai

Reserve your place no later than March 1, 2016.

Adler Society members, you should receive your trip brochure in the mail in the first week of February 2016.

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To request a trip brochure, or for more information, please call Judie Green at 312.341.2397.

Our Cornerstones

Jim and Linda Mitchell

Every landmark building needs a foundation... 

…a source of strength that helps shoulder the burden

...and a base of support upon which the structure can rest.

Meet Jim and Linda Mitchell

When you consider the people who have supported you along your path from trials to successes, chances are you may think of your parents. Jim and Linda Mitchell certainly do: 

“Neither Jim nor I came from wealthy homes. Our parents worked very hard to provide for us. We learned from our parents the work ethic that we used to give us the means to be able to help others.”

Having long been active supporters of both Roosevelt University and the Auditorium Theatre, Jim and Linda also recognize that the youth in our Hands Together, Heart to Art performing arts summer camp may not be able to say the same thing.

That’s because, as you likely know, our campers are children age 7-14 who are grieving the death of one or both of their parents. Every year and over the course of each camp session, these hurting children find others their own age who are going through a similar experience. And, with guidance from our Teaching Artists and Certified Counselors, they use music, dance, theater and creative play to face their grief, express themselves and, ultimately, to heal.

Hands Together, Heart to Art camp was created by the Auditorium in 2004 and started as a special project driven by Brett Batterson, who served as our Executive Director until late 2015. Jim and Linda share why this camp is meaningful to them:

We appreciate the fact that the Auditorium has taken this program very seriously and has added this to their agenda, besides entertainment. We really feel that family is very important for everyone to have and is the basis for a strong beginning for children and their outlook on life. We also have a philosophy of- If you are blessed with something that someone else is in need of, you have the responsibility to share that blessing.

And so, with a major gift that they made in late 2015, these dear friends have established the Linda and James J. Mitchell Endowment at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University to support Hands Together, Heart to Art. Their selfless generosity makes a significant impact on the stability of the program, which depends entirely on awards from granting agencies and donations from many compassionate individuals.

Jim and Linda, please know that there are many people who would want to join us in expressing our gratitude. Your friendship to the Auditorium and to Hands Together, Heart to Art is deeply encouraging, not only to the staff and other supporters of our camp, but also for our camp youth because it shows them that there are people who are pulling for them to find the healing they deserve. Thank you.

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Learn more about The Mitchells and their philosophy of sharing what you have in abundance when you attend an Auditorium Theatre presentation this spring. Their story is also featured as a Donor Spotlight article in our program books through June 2016.

In each issue of “The Curtain Speech,” we acknowledge the particular efforts of an individual, corporation or foundation whose recent support has been especially encouraging. We want to share these stories with you because their selfless generosity is instrumental in helping our National Historic Landmark persevere, prosper, and grow.

The Auditorium Theatre is incredibly grateful for the kindness of these compassionate people. These are friends just like you. These are our cornerstones.

Welcome, Charlie Gardner!

Photo: Dan Rest

Please join us in welcoming Charlie Gardner to the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors!

The Auditorium Board members and staff are extremely pleased to welcome our newly appointed Chairman of the Board, Charlie Gardner.

Charlie has long been a loyal steward of the Auditorium Theatre, serving on the Auditorium Board of Directors since 2003. A certified public accountant by training, Charlie previously served for a time in the office of Board Treasurer. He’s been part of our extended Roosevelt community for even longer, actively serving on the Roosevelt University Board of Trustees since 1993.

In his professional life, Charlie was President and CEO of The Chicago Dock & Canal Trust, a publicly traded real estate investment trust. With Chicago Dock, Charlie helped develop jewels like the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, the NBC Tower, the University of Chicago’s Gleacher Center and more than 1,000 condominiums and rental apartments in projects that today are known as Cityfront Center and River East. “It was a lifetime dream to be involved in a major piece of land in a major city and in a great location,” says Charlie.

Charlie and his wife, Patti Eylar, always answer our calls for support. They are “Friends of Too Hot to Handel,” tirelessly concerned with preservation efforts of our National Historic Landmark building, and happy patrons of our dance presenting and producing.

This fall, you will see Charlie and Patti here at the Auditorium enjoying a performance of The Joffrey Ballet, the Twyla Tharp--50th Anniversary Tour, and the Billy Strayhorn gala on November 21. They subscribe every year to our dance series and many other productions like Too Hot to Handel.

In fact, their contributions to dance, and to ballet in particular, go far beyond our stage. Patti was a founding member of Chicago City Ballet, directed by Maria Tallchief and Paul Meija, and currently co-directs Chicago Ballet Arts in the west Rogers Park neighborhood. She is currently the President of the Joffrey Ballet Women's Board, and an active board member of Chicago Dancers United and Audience Architects, Chicago’s dance service organization.

Charlie is also active around town, serving on the board of the Civic Federation, and as a member of the Joffrey Circle Committee. He is also a former member of the Boards of Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation, Northwestern Memorial Foundation, the Illinois Gaming Board, and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority. He is a Life Trustee of Northwestern Medicine.

Charlie retired from business in 1997. But if that inspires you to challenge him to a pick-up game of hoops, a word of caution- you’ll need to bring you’re A-game. Charlie is a former basketball player with the ABA team Denver Rockets.

Welcome, Charlie! We are thrilled to have you serve as Chairman of the Board.