Audience Building with Our Friends
By Liz Sharp
The Women’s Board of the Joffrey Ballet presented its second Women’s Night at the Joffrey on February 15, 2018, drawing a vibrant group of ballet lovers and novices alike.
Chairs of the event, Liz Sharp and Kathleen Kenehan and their founding committee, mixed and mingled with 76 women at Tesori Trattoria and Bar for cocktails, dinner and an artistic presentation before the show. This successful Women’s Night at the Joffrey hosted women leaders from the Chicago area and fellow Women’s Board members, friends and business associates to enjoy the Joffrey Ballet and make new connections. Guests enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres including lobster bruschetta, smoked beef brisket ravioli and fig and brie puff pastries with champagne from Moet Chandon. Tesori’s signature one plate dinner was a scrumptious choice of roasted Mahi Mahi with mango salsa, beef filet medallions, or pan roasted cauliflower steak. The excellent service and attention to detail were appreciated by all guests. Gerard Charles, the Joffrey’s Director of Artistic Operations and Ballet Master presented an informative artistic overview of the four ballets before the performance.
From left to right: Pauline Sheehan, Jetta Boschen, Elizabeth Dziersk and Noren Ungaretti.
Following dinner, the women saw the Joffrey’s Modern Masters at the Auditorium Theatre which focused on the modern evolution of American ballet. The Joffrey featured the world premiere Beyond the Shore by Joffrey Ballet Master Nicolas Blanc, Glass Pieces by Jerome Robbins, Body of Your Dreams by Myles Thatcher and The Four Temperaments by George Balanchine. The audience leapt to their feet for a standing ovation and the performance received glowing reviews from Lauren Warnecke of the Chicago Tribune and Hedy Weiss from WTTW’s Chicago Tonight.
From left to right: Shanda McFadden, Sue Oleari, Jen Falk and Elizabeth Nani.
“What I loved about this evening was the chance to be with close friends and enjoy the Joffrey Ballet together. The Company’s performance was fantastic and the live music was transformative!”, Pauline Sheehan enthused afterwards.
From left to right: Annabelle Volgman, Julie Harron and Michele Kubala.
From left to right: Laurie Wade, Women’s Board President Patti Eyler, Sandi Hartstein, and Hallie Rehwaldt.
Attendees at the February 15 event included Melissa Babcock, Barb Kazziah, Julie Harron, Jetta Boschen, Patti Eyler, Linda Celesia, Elizabeth Dziersk, Ellie Foreman, Noren Ungaretti, Sue Oleari, Sandi Hartstein, Julianne Migely, Kathy Cook, Karen Zupko, Kathy Swien, and Leslie Logsdon.
Intended as an opportunity to introduce new audience members to the Joffrey, the event is a spring board for an upcoming Women’s Night subscription series to the Joffrey Ballet for 2018-19. The final Women’s Night at the Joffrey is set for Thursday, May 3, 2018 for the performance of Midsummer Night’s Dream by Swedish trailblazer Alexander Ekman. A not-to be-missed astounding ode to the longest day of the year. So, mark your calendars!
