Fit for Royalty

From June 18-21, 2015, the Auditorium Theatre will conclude its 125th Anniversary Dance Season with a celebration fit for a king.  During that time, the world-renowned Royal Ballet will return to Chicago after an absence of nearly forty years.  On June, 16, 2015 the Auditorium Theatre will hold a special gala event in conjunction with The Royal Ballet's triumphant return to Chicago.  Co-chaired by local philanthropists David Herro and Jay Franke, the gala will be a majestic celebration of dance, arts, and culture.

The Royal Ballet will perform five times on the Auditorium's stage and will entrance audiences with Carlos Acosta's rendition of one of the most exhilarating and timeless ballets of all time, "Don Quixote."  Frenetic and powerful, expressive and captivating, "Don Quixote" requires exceptional technical abilities and the most capable performers to truly succeed.  As a review in "The Guardian" stated, "Acosta (is)...giving The Royal Ballet's 'Don Quixote' a completely new lease on life."

The full scope and massive scale of The Royal Ballet's work is unsurpassed in the world of dance.  Commemorating the arrival of such an acclaimed group of artists necessitates an equally expansive gala celebration.  At the Auditorium Theatre we are especially thrilled that this historic event will be co-chaired by two of Chicago's most prestigious and compassionate arts lovers.  Jay Franke and David Herro, co-founders (with Lar Lubovitch) of the Chicago Dancing Festival, have already made an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of Chicago.  It is only fitting that such an exalted gala event be led by two individuals whose accolades are simply too numerous to list in a single article.  We are grateful for their friendship and we anxiously look forward to what promises to be an elegant sendoff to the Auditorium Theatre's 125th Anniversary Dance Season. 

For more information about the Auditorium Theatre’s Royal Ballet Gala, please call (312) 341-2397.


The Royal Ballet in Don Quixote by ROH/JOHAN PERSSON 2013

(Re)living the history

What a season we’re having!  Amazing performances, mesmerizing events, wonderful friends—the Auditorium Theatre’s 125th Anniversary has already surpassed its lofty expectations thus far…and it’s only half over! One of our greatest achievements of the last six months was our tremendously well-received gala event on December 9, “Living the History: 125 Years of the Auditorium Theatre.”

We are pleased to say that approximately 600 people attended the gala benefit on December 9 and helped create one of the most memorable events in the Auditorium Theatre’s long and illustrious history.  Hosted by the incomparable John Mahoney, the spectacular entertainment for the Auditorium Theatre’s 125^th gala paid homage to our long history of exceptional programming, and included:  the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Joffrey Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the Apollo Chorus of Chicago, and the All-Star Chicago Rock Band composed of legendary Chicago musicians.  In a scheduling coup of pure symmetry, one of the headliners, the world-renowned and Tony-Award winning Broadway sensation, Ms. Patti LuPone, happens to be the great-grandniece (and namesake) of Adelina Patti, the opera star who performed on the Auditorium Theatre’s stage during opening night in 1889.  Her performance was truly remarkable, and all of the artists who graced our stage on that triumphant evening astonished the crowd with their incandescent talent and impeccable craft. 

From the exquisite performances to the post-show reception and dinner at the Palmer House Hilton, the Auditorium’s 125^th Anniversary Gala Celebration was a magical evening that ultimately raised over $500,000 for our National Historic Landmark.  However, it was a night that never could have been possible without dear friends like you.  On behalf of the entire Auditorium Theatre, we would like to thank our gala sponsor, the Pasquinelli Family Foundation, and all those patrons, performers, and friends (including our dinner co-chairs Joan Colmar, Helen Melchior, and Phil Lumpkin) who made the event such a rousing success.  Together, we truly lived the history.

A Wall of Fame

Throughout the Auditorium Theatre’s astonishing, 125 year history, millions of audience members have passed through our doors.  Each of those individuals has an invaluable memory of their time here—including you.

You now have the unique opportunity to share your favorite memories on our “Memory Wall,” an installation to be built on the north wall of the Auditorium Theatre’s lobby.  We are pleased to announce that this exciting addition to our National Historic Landmark will be unveiled next month in February, 2015.  This new construction will feature plaques containing the names, dates, and favorite memories of our most cherished friends.  Although it is nearly complete, please know that this will be an ongoing opportunity for all our friends, and there are still plenty of spaces available for reserving your place on this enduring time capsule. 

Whether it’s seeing The Who, or a “who’s who” of American dance…whether watching a child's eyes light up during a performance of “The Nutcracker” or marveling at the beauty of Adler and  Sullivan's vision... those experiences can now be recorded forever.  And whatever your favorite memory of the Auditorium might be—witnessing a performance or marveling at the architecture, attending an event or applauding a show with your friends—you can now share it for future generations to enjoy.    

To learn more about how you can share your memory for years to come, call (312) 341-2397, or email jagreen@auditoriumtheatre.org

A Proud Tradition

For many years, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has been a cornerstone of the Auditorium Theatre’s programming.  With a fluid, inventive, and challenging combination of masterful choreography, social commentary, and breathtaking dance, an Alvin Ailey production is a transcendent experience—and an exercise for the mind, the body, and the soul.

From March 6-15, 2015, Alvin Ailey will perform Chicago premieres and classic favorites on the Auditorium Theatre’s stage.  Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is composed of the finest, most capable dancers to be found throughout the world.  The grace with which they perform belies the complexity of their choreography, and it is no understatement to assert that the genius of Alvin Ailey forever changed our perception of American dance.  

The complicated, grueling choreography the Ailey dancers display reflects the intricate interplay between symbol and movement, story and sensation.  Prevailing themes in some of the company's most well-known pieces include:  the arduous journey from slavery to freedom, the scourge of inequality, the promise of hope, and the power with which our past continues to resonate.

But Alvin Ailey's artistry is not inaccessible.  On the contrary, its brilliant use of multiculturalism sets a tone of inclusion all communities can embrace, and the motifs contained within every Ailey performance express universal ideals from which we all can learn, regardless of ethnicity or cultural history.  We are honored to again welcome these consummate artists to our stage and we are thrilled that the Ailey dancers will once again provide a breathtaking conduit for contemplating the soul of a country...and the soul of humanity. 

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Ailey's Glenn Allen Sims by Andrew Eccles.

Our Cornerstones

Every landmark building needs a 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 their kindness.  And we want to acknowledge their efforts because they are instrumental in helping our National Historic Landmark persevere, prosper, and grow.

These are compassionate people, responsible corporations, and philanthropic institutions. 

These are friends just like you.

These are our cornerstones.  

This month, meet the "Friends of Too Hot to Handel."
   

Why Freeze...when you can burn? 

On January 17 and 18, the Auditorium Theatre celebrated the tenth engagement of one of our most critically-acclaimed and eagerly awaited events of the year, "Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah."

This unique, self-produced musical experience seamlessly fuses jazz, blues, and gospel with Handel's classic oratorio.  "Too Hot to Handel" is a true celebration of diversity held each year in honor of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, a production that features over 150 musicians and volunteer choir members and is exquisitely performed by Rodrick Dixon, Alfreda Burke, and Karen Marie Richardson.  In addition to a student matinee performance attended by over 2,000 Chicago Public School children, outreach activities held in concurrence with this kinetic musical event include: residency programs, master classes, and a citywide poetry contest for students throughout Chicago.  The community involvement coupled with such exceptional talent makes "Too Hot to Handel" one of the Auditorium Theatre's most anticipated events of the season.

Of course, none of this production's considerable success could be possible without the support of some generous and treasured friends.  We are honored to thank Exelon, JP Morgan Chase, the Illinois Arts Council, the Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation, the PrivateBank, and William and Shelley Farley for their gracious sponsorship of this one-of-a-kind performance.

We would also like to express our deepest gratitude to the "Friends of Too Hot to Handel," a collection of gracious individuals whose kindness and sacrifice are essential to the success of this production each year.

• Eric and Linda McGill Boasmond
• Tammy and Rob Campbell
• Patti Eylar and Charlie Gardner
• William and Shelley Farley
• Franczek Radelet
• Mel and Renee Katten
• Pamela G. Meyer
• David and Margaret Radelet
• Dr. Eugene Thomas
• Nike Whitcomb McKechnie and the late James A. McKechnie, Jr.
• Dave Samber and Darrell Windle  

Their assistance helped make this the most successful year of "Too Hot to Handel" yet--and we anxiously await the opportunity to share this riveting experience with new audience members next season.

 

To learn more about how you can join the “Friends of Too Hot to Handel,” call (312) 341-2397, or email jagreen@auditoriumtheatre.org.

 

THTH by Dan Rest.