May 01, 2016
BY JUDY CARMACK BROSS
An Aon fireworks finale off Navy Pier for the 500 guests attending Gala night capped the Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s yearlong recognition of the Bard’s 400-year legacy on April 23rd. The announcement that a record-breaking $1.4 million was raised for the Tony Award winning theater’s Chicago Shakespeare in Urban Classrooms and Communities initiatives was not the only highlight of the spectacular evening. A cabaret performance by Scottish actor Alan Cumming, OBE and star of The Good Wife, and the magic captured across multiple lobbies courtesy of fanciful tableaux vivants helped make it a not-to-be-matched tribute to the playwright born 452 years before.
Most moving was CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines’ tribute to community initiatives in her introduction to a former education program participant Roque Sanchez:
“When I was a young girl, Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29 – ‘When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes, I all alone between my outcast state…’ – awakened in me a deep sense of humanity. His words, written centuries before, made me realize that I was not alone. When I founded this company thirty years ago, remembering my younger self, I knew that we had to work with students. We had to be that light in the darkness for the next generation. And now, years later, because of the generous support of so many, an astonishing two million students have been impacted by our education programs.”
Barbara and Executive Director Criss Henderson presented the Spirit of Shakespeare Honoree award to ComEd, represented by ComEd President and CEO Anne Pramaggiore, recognizing the company’s community support.
In addition to honorary co-chairs Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Amy Rule, Gala co-chairs Ally and Suzette Bulley, Barbara Malott Kizziah and Keith Kizziah, and Paulita Pile and Zulfiqar Bokhari masterminded the evening. Suzette Bulley reported:
“I particularly loved the tableaux vivants in all the rooms, with Chicago Shakespeare artists in a wide range of fashions representing the last 400 years, some inspired by famous works of art. Some had great twists: the woman in an eighteenth-century French tableau wore contemporary jewelry and was reading Little Women.”
Guests particularly loved the dessert, a “Midsummer Night’s cherry trifle dream,” featuring layers of pistachio cream and tart cherries. A fitting treat for a birthday celebration.
Chicago Shakespeare Creative Producer Rick Boynton, CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines, Alan Cumming, CST Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin, and CST Executive Director Criss Henderson.
Chicago Shakespeare Director of Institutional Advancement Brooke Flanagan, incoming CST Board of Directors Chair Steven J. Solomon and his wife Robin, Nora Daley Conroy, Tara Flocco, and CST Board Member Patrick Richard Daley.
Stan Razny and Chicago Shakespeare Board Member Ingrid Razny.
Chicago Shakespeare Executive Director Criss Henderson, Spirit of Shakespeare Honoree Anne Pramaggiore, CST Board of Directors Chair Sheli Z. Rosenberg, and CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines.
GALA 2016 Event Co-Chairs Ally Bulley, Paulita Pike, and Barbara Malott Kizziah.
Kyle Vowell and Sierra Harlan.
Ashleigh Morpeau, Trisha Raines, CST Board Member Brian W. Duwe, Yasmina Duwe, and Stephanie Coirin.
Stunning Chicago skyline views silhouetted dining spaces throughout the Theater’s multi-level lobby and performance spaces.
GALA 2016 Event Co-Chairs Ally and Suzette Bulley, Spirit of Shakespeare Honoree Anne Pramaggiore, Alan Cumming, and event co-chairs Barbara Malott Kizziah, Paulita Pike, Zulfiqar Bokhari, and Keith Kizziah.
Melissa Waud and Lydia Porter.
Deborah Liverett, Chicago Shakespeare Board Member Eric Q. Strickland, and Jacki Robinson-Ivy.
Tony and Olivier Award-winning actor Alan Cumming performed for GALA 2016 attendees in Chicago Shakespeare’s Courtyard Theater.
The festive GALA 2016 atmosphere featured lush floral arrangements from Bukiety and striking visuals, including framed “Living Pictures,” from MDR Creative, Inc.
Chicago Shakespeare Board Member Kevin R. Evanich and his wife Joan.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s GALA 2016 culminated in a “Celebration of Shakespeare” Fireworks display over Navy Pier.
Photo Credits:
Michael Brosilow
Michael Litchfield
Daniel Ribar
