By Judy Carmack Bross
ICON recipient Raul Esparza on stage with WGN’s Paul Lisnek at the recent Porchlight Music Theatre ICONS Gala.
Before they sat down for an interview at the recent Porchlight Music Theatre’s 2024 ICONS gala, recipient Raul Esparza and interviewer WGN’s Paul Lisnek requested tequila shots from Porchlight’s longtime supporter and past Luminary Award winner Rick Bayless, perhaps Chicago’s most famous chef and restaurateur who quickly appeared on stage to accommodate. The recent star of “Galileo” and a four-time Tony nominee. Esparza told backstories of his numerous performances from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” to “Tick, Yick..Boom” and TV and film
such as “Hannibal” and “Law and Order” for the 200 delighted guests.
World-renowned chef and a past Luminary award winner Rick Bayless.
Porchlight Music Theatre’s 2024 ICONS Gala brunch celebrating Esparza held recently at The Ritz-Carlton Chicago broke all previous fundraising records for the Gala, bringing in more than $200,000.
Artistic Director Michael Weber, ICON 2024 Award recipient Raul Esparza and Interim Executive Director Jenna Deja.
Directed by Porchlight’s Artistic Director Michael Weber, with music directed by Linda Madonia and associate music direction by Justin Kono, the event served as the launch of Porchlight’s 30th season and supported Porchlight’s mission of celebrating the past, present and future of music theatre through its artistic, educational and community programming. Kicking off the entertainment were Adrian Aguilar, Juwon Tyrel Perry, Ava Stovall and Keely Vasquez performing “Consider Yourself,” from “Oliver!” Esparaza performed as Fagin in the musical in 2023. The band which included Linda Madonia Justin Kono and Eric von Holst, performed throughout the brunch.
Porchlight Young Professionals Board Chair Nate Groonwald and Fundraising Chair Lisa Villani-Gale lead the live auction and paddle raise.
In the lively Q & A with Lisnek, Esparza told of living in Chicago at Armitage and Sheffield and of his experiences at Steppenwolf, Goodman and other theatres. He also gave insights into his experiences with Hal Prince during “Evita” and his long relationship with Stephen Sondheim, whom he called “the greatest composer of musical theatre we ever had.” When Lisnek asked about his dramatic roles like “Speed the Plow” and his recent “exciting” role in Berkeley Repertory Theatre’s “Galileo,” directed by Tony Award-winner Michael Mayer, Esparza said he forgot how difficult it is to do a musical: “musicals are the hardest things to do… to do eight shows a week … plays you can do with a cold, musicals you can’t.”
Soon after COVID began, Esparza conceived of, executive produced and performed in the online concert event “Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration.” The concert received a special Drama League Award and is now preserved in the Library of Congress.
The ICONS Gala was launched in 2012 and many icons have been honored throughout its history including Hal Prince, Elaine Stritch, Bob Fosse, Ethel Merman and Fred Astaire. In 2020, the ICON Award was established to celebrate a notable artist who has made an indelible contribution to American entertainment and has since been presented to living legends Joel Grey, Chita Rivera, Donna McKechnie and Ben Vereen.
(L to R) Artistic Director Michael Weber, 2024 Luminary Award Recipients Steve and Michelle Cucchiaro, Executive Director Jeannie Lukow and Interim Executive Director Jenna Deja.
Jeannie Lukow, who stepped down as executive director at the end of September, was greeted with a standing ovation from the appreciative crowd. Lukow introduced the 2024 Luminary Award recipients Michelle and Steve Cucchiaro. Lukow saying: “These are truly two of the greatest humans one could ever meet. I know, I’ve spent many, many fun nights out to dinner with Michelle and Steve, and their interest in supporting the arts in Chicago is so impressive. They have been steadfast in advocating for Porchlight for well over a decade, but it doesn’t stop there. They are also longtime advocates for the entire theatre and film community here in Chicago.”
(L to R) Marcie McVay, Dennis Zacek, Deanna Dunagan, 2024 ICON Award Recipient Raúl Esparza, Sandy Shinner and Jerry Wilson.
(L to R) Jim Jensen, Rick Bayless, Deann Bayless, Jean Klingenstein, Elaine Cohen, Raúl Esparza, Arlen Rubin and 2024 Luminary Award Recipients Michelle and Steve Cucchiaro.
The Luminary Award is bestowed annually at the ICONS Gala. This honor recognizes an outstanding individual, family or family foundation with a history of philanthropic and volunteer leadership on behalf of Porchlight and music theatre in Chicago, and whose generosity inspires others to philanthropic action. Past honorees include Rick and Deann Bayless and the Bayless Family Foundation, Elaine Cohen and Arlen D. Rubin, Jim Jensen, Jean Klingenstein, Dan Ratner and the Ratner Family Foundation and Paul M. Lisnek.
Porchlight Board Members Rhona Frazin and Todd Arp express their gratitude on behalf of Porchlight for all supporters of the event and the organization.
Porchlight’s history over nearly three decades includes more than 70 mainstage works with 15 Chicago premieres and five world premieres.
Porchlight’s education and outreach programs serve schools, youth of all ages and skill levels and community organizations. Porchlight annually awards dozens of full scholarships and hundreds of free tickets to ensure accessibility and real engagement with this uniquely American art form.
The company’s many honors include 178 Joseph Jefferson Award (Jeff) nominations and 50 Jeff awards, as well as 44 Black Theatre Alliance (BTA) nominations and 15 BTA awards. In 2019, Porchlight graduated to the Large Theatre tier of the Equity Jeff Awards and has been honored with seven awards in this tier to date including Best Ensemble for Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies (2019) and Best Production-Revue for Blues in the Night (2022).
Photos by Sarah Elizabeth Larsen.
For further information about Porchlight Music Theatre visit: porchlightmusictheatre.org
