ATC Announces Chocolate & Pearls Gala To Be Held 4/30

American Theater Company's Board of Trustees and Gala Committee announces the company's annual gala, Chocolate & Pearls. The 2009 Gala celebrates 24 years of creating professional, ensemble-based theater in Chicago. The event will be emceed by legendary television producer and journalist Bill Kurtis and will be held on April 30, 2009 at Germania Place, 108 W. Germania Place, Chicago, IL.

Event highlights include the special presentation of the third annual American Dream Award to Horizon Communications Executive Producer and White House Point of Light winner Rick Roberts. American Dream Awards will also be presented to two outstanding students from ATC's "American Mosaic" program, Julio Valentin and Levert Sykes, as well as an Ensemble Member from American Theater Company.

The theme of the evening is "Chocolate & Pearls" and will feature a dinner, raffle, and a live and silent auction offering guests the chance to bid on fabulous prizes, including a weekend trip to NYC to attend the Saturday Night Live cast after-party; a seven day stay in a guest house in beautiful Aspen; and the opportunity to relive "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" - complete with a seaplane tour of Chicago, an afternoon Cubs game and an elegant dinner at Bistro 110.

Other event highlights include an after-party with live music by special musical guest The Charlie Hunter Band following the Gala festivities. The Gala is expected to raise $100,000 in support of American Theater Company. Two hundred guests are expected to attend.

The Gala Chairs are John A. Goldstein and Macie Huwiler. The Gala Committee includes Jessica Braun, Amber Cox, John Dieckmann, Lauren Fimbres, Lois Hobart, Linda Lu, Amy McMahon, Michael Newberry, PJ Paparelli, Betty Rake, Rachel Reader, Rachael Scholten and Julie Womack, all of Chicago; and Gordon Lau of Winnetka.

Gala tickets are $200. Tickets are available by calling 773.409.4125 or online at www.atcweb.org.

The American Theater Company Board of Trustees includes: John Goldstein, President; Macie Huwiler, Vice President; Jeff Morof, Vice President; John Bienko, Treasurer; Julie Womack, Secretary; Michael Evanoff; David Katz; Gordon Lau; Wyllys Mann; Lisa Parker Freeman; Gregory G. Simoncini; and Carole and Dean Sotter.

American Theater Company is an ensemble of artists committed to producing new and classic American stories that ask the question, "What does it mean to be an American?" We provide a truly intimate home for the community to experience meaningful stories. We foster a nurturing environment for artists to take risks and create essential work.

American Theater Company is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and CityArts II. Additional valuable support is provided by the Alphawood Foundation, the Bruce B. Boyd Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Mayer and Morris Kaplan Family Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, Prince Charitable Trust, and Shubert Foundation.