A Fiendishly Good Time

The Auditorium Theatre’s Junior Board will host its third annual gala event, “The Devil’s Ball,” on Friday, September 27 from 7:30 to 11:00 p.m. in the Auditorium’s historic lobby.  This event was started by a group dedicated of young professionals in the Chicago area who are committed to the preservation and restoration of the National Historic Landmark Auditorium Theatre.  Additionally, this board raises funds and awareness for the theatre’s programming and educational outreach efforts, including “Hands Together, Heart to Art,” our award-winning summer camp for children who have experienced the death of a parent.   Highlights of the evening will feature music, auction, tours of the historic theatre, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.  Space is limited so please book your tickets today!

Please direct all ticket requests and questions to Amanda Byrne at 312.341.2364 or abyrne@auditoriumtheatre.org.

The Winning Ticket!

 Join us on Sunday, October 6, for “An Evening of Fortune and Chance” when the Auditorium Theatre welcomes Ballet West led by artistic director, Adam Sklute.  The evening’s performance features a mixed repertory program including: “Rubies,” Pas de Deux from “Diamonds,” and “The Lottery. “   This is one of the most elegant and celebrated events of the Auditorium Theatre’s 2013-2014 season, and we would be honored if you, who we count among our dearest friends, could join us for this special occasion.  The post-show reception at the Chicago Hilton will include cocktails and dinner with some of the city’s greatest dignitaries and arts aficionados. 

To purchase tickets to the Auditorium Theatre’s 2013 Gala, or to address any inquiries, please contact Amanda Byrne at 312.341.2364, or abyrne@auditoriumtheatre.org. 

Building Memories

The Auditorium's history is unparalleled throughout the artistic world.  The vision of our original architects, the list of performers to grace our stage, and this historic landmark's importance throughout the community all help make our beloved landmark one of the most prominent and legendary locations of its kind.  However, the Auditorium's landmark structure—and the pinnacle of adulation that surrounds those who have stepped through our doors—are not necessarily as inaccessible as one might think. 

In fact, as a dear friend to the Auditorium Theatre, you will soon have the chance to add your name to our legacy.  Your name can adorn our walls, and your memories of this magnificent building can be shared with other patrons for generations to come. 

Keep your eyes peeled for this amazing development—we'll be contacting you soon with more details on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Say hello to our new friends!

The Auditorium Theatre is thrilled to announce two new additions to our staff—Erica Bittner, our Development Associate, and Molly Toohey, our Development Intern.  They each bring a wide assortment of skills, energy and enthusiasm to their respective positions, and we’re honored to have them as part of our team. 

Erica Bittner, Development Associate

Originally from Ottumwa, Iowa, Erica moved to Chicago to attend the Theatre Conservatory at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University where she earned her BFA in Musical Theatre. 


She has since performed as a professional actor at various Chicago theatres, including First Folio Theatre, Oak Park Festival Theatre, Redmoon Theater, and Light Opera Works.  She simultaneously gained experience in development as an intern at Redmoon Theater and as a grant writer for Oak Park Festival Theatre.  She couldn’t be happier to join the development team at the Auditorium Theatre!

 

Molly Toohey, Development Intern
 

Molly Toohey is a junior at Denison University, in Granville, Ohio, where is she is studying History and International Studies.  Because of Molly’s interest in development, the arts, and working for a non-profit, her University recommended she apply for the Auditorium’s internship program. Over the course of the summer, Molly has learned the value of donor relations and the role strategy plays in development. She is so appreciative of the opportunity to work with development team and hopes to apply what she has learned about arts management and development to her future career.  Her internship will end in the middle of August, when she leaves to travel abroad in Budapest, Hungary. 

Our Cornerstones

Every landmark building needs a strong foundation…

…a source of strength that helps shoulder the burden

…and a base of support upon which the structure must rest.

In each issue of "The Curtain Speech" this section will highlight some of the Auditorium Theatre’s cornerstones—individuals, corporations, and foundations whose support has been especially heartwarming. We are incredibly grateful for their generosity and for their kindness. And we want to acknowledge them because their selflessness is instrumental in helping our National Historic Landmark persevere, prosper, and grow.

These are compassionate people, responsible corporations, and philanthropic institutions committed to making a difference in the world.

These are friends just like you.

These are our cornerstones.

Tammy and Rob Campbell

Friends like these are priceless. 

Spend just a few moments with Tammy and Rob Campbell, and you’ll discover the truth—and the joy—ingrained within this statement.

Whether they’re swaying to a performance of “Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah,” marveling at the choreography of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, or celebrating another milestone event on our stage, Rob and Tammy are always committed to gaining the most from every experience within our walls.

The Campbells became involved with the Auditorium Theatre through “Too Hot to Handel,” which they describe as: “… a performance that invites you to engage with the musicians, the singers, the music, the words and just maybe even the people sitting around you. It’s Handel’s ‘Messiah,’ which we already loved, brought to a whole other dimension.”  They’ve been diligently attending and assisting this riveting musical event ever since their first performance and have also brought groups of friends and colleagues to our theatre each year.   

Yet the Campbells’ familiarity with the Auditorium (which they aptly describe as “a beautiful venue that has a history that embodies the heart and soul of Chicago”) is not limited to a single production.  In fact, their extensive connection with our historic landmark encompasses the entirety of each season. Their intimate involvement with Willow Creek Church, which holds services in our theatre each Sunday, already make the Campbells regular fixtures at the theatre.  But they also: act as ambassadors of “Too Hot to Handel;” serve as “Friends of Too Hot to Handel;” support “Hands Together, Heart to Art,” our original arts summer camp for children who have experienced the death of a parent; participate on planning committees for our upcoming 125^th anniversary; and attend a myriad of performances and events each season.

Humble and gracious, the Campbells express considerable humility even when describing the substantial impact they make on our national historic landmark.   “(Our) biggest impact is that we have an opportunity to be a part of a community of individuals that are all making a difference in whatever small or large way.  Sitting in the audience – supporting the arts and taking in the wonder of creation in the beautiful venue of the Auditorium Theatre is something that gives back to us. We are honored to be a part of the community that goes beyond the borders of the walls of the Auditorium... we love being able to share this community with our family and friends (or even friends we haven’t met yet).”

Tammy and Rob's hard work and exuberance, both for the Auditorium Theatre and for other organizations, is inspiring. As yet another example of their consummate selflessness, their favorite memories of the Auditorium naturally focus on the joy the venue provides not to each other, but to everyone.  “Seeing the faces of our friends and family who hear ‘Too Hot to Handel’ for the first time, (and) baptism Sunday service at Willow Chicago,” are among their most precious experiences with our cultural icon.  It is these moments in which people are transformed—through art, faith, community, or a combination of all three—that truly resonate with these generous individuals.

Regardless of which event they attend, everyone at the Auditorium Theatre is extremely grateful to the Campbells for everything that they do.  Their impact cannot be overstated—and we are all fortunate to benefit from their tremendous kindness, their incredible commitment . . . and their priceless friendship.