Auditorium Theatre Celebrates 50th Anniversary Of Grand Re-Opening At Annual Fall Gala

On November 12, 2017, the Auditorium Theatre held its Annual Fall Gala, honoring Sonia Florian of the NIB Foundation with the second annual Adler and Sullivan Award. Guests attended a cocktail reception and dinner at the Standard Club before proceeding to the theatre for A Golden Celebration of Dance, a performance honoring the 50th anniversary of the theatre's grand re-opening in 1967. The performance featured dancers from Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, Ballet West, Berlin State Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, The Joffrey Ballet, MOMIX, New York City Ballet, Parsons Dance, The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Vienna State Ballet, and The Washington Ballet.

"The Annual Fall Gala was a night to remember, celebrating the past, present, and future of the Auditorium Theatre and reminding all who attended of the theatre's rich legacy," said Tania Castroverde Moskalenko, Auditorium Theatre CEO. "It was very fitting that we honored Sonia Florian, a dedicated supporter of the performing arts and of the Auditorium, on this evening that commemorated such an important moment in Chicago's cultural history."

Florian was presented with a custom-made award created by Auditorium Theatre Auxiliary Board member Matthew McNicholas of MGLM Architects. The award features a bronze casting of a piece of the theatre's historic railing, designed by architect Louis Sullivan.

Edward Villella and Suzanne Farrell, who starred in New York City Ballet's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream on opening night in 1967, served as honorary co-chairs for the gala. Kathleen and Nicholas Amatangelo, Kristopher and Annie Atzeff, Paula Fasseas, Howard Gottlieb and Barbara Greis, Better Cerf Hill and Bruce Sagan, Bill McIntosh, Helen Hall Melchior, and Ann and Tom Nash served as the gala host committee. The gala was sponsored by the Pasquinelli Family Foundation. Rich Daniels and the City Lights Orchestra provided music for the reception and dinner.

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For more photos of the Auditorium Theatre 2017 Annual Fall Gala and A Golden Celebration of Dance, please click here.

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Auditorium Theatre's 2017-18 Season Upcoming Performances

December 1-30: The Joffrey Ballet - The Nutcracker

January 13-14: Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah

January 27: Pedro Fernández

February 7-18: The Joffrey Ballet - Modern Masters

March 3-4: Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo - La Belle

March 7-11: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

March 14: VIVID 2018: CCPA Annual Showcase

March 23-24: Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

About The Auditorium Theatre

The Auditorium Theatre, located at 50 E Congress Pkwy in Chicago, is an Illinois, not-for-profit organization committed to presenting the finest in international, cultural, community, and educational programming to all of Chicago and beyond as The Theatre for the People. The organization also is committed to the continued restoration and preservation of the National Historic Landmark.

The Auditorium Theatre 2017-18 Season is made possible in part with support from the MacArthur Foundation and the Palmer House Hilton. Michigan Avenue is the official magazine sponsor. For more information about programming, volunteer, and donor opportunities or theatre tours, call 312.341.2310 or visit AuditoriumTheatre.org. For a complete listing of events at the Auditorium Theatre, please click here.

Auditorium Theatre 2017 Annual Fall Gala, photo by Robert F. Carl Photography. | The Washington Ballet's Brooklyn Mack and San Francisco Ballet's Koto Ishihara, photo by Kristie Kahns. | Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater's Solomon Dumas, photo by Kristie Kahns.