Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) celebrated Shakespeare's vibrant legacy with GALA 2015 on Monday, June 8 at the Theater's home on Navy Pier, raising $1.2 million for Chicago Shakespeare in Urban Communities initiatives. Three hundred and fifty of Chicago's civic, corporate and cultural leaders attended the event benefiting CST's award-winning engagement programs including Team Shakespeare education initiatives and Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the fifth annual Spirit of Shakespeare Awards to this year's Civic Honoree, Illinois Tool Works (ITW) and ITW Vice Chairman David Parry and his wife Ros Parry, and Artistic Honorees, Simon Callow and Phylicia Rash?d.
GALA 2015 showcased the multiple lobbies and performance spaces of Chicago Shakespeare with theatrical flourishes. The enduring legacy of Shakespeare's words remained at the core of the celebration, with aspirational quotes from the Bard's plays projected onto walls and windows. Dotting the event landscape were actors embodying iconic characters from the canon-attired in lavish costumes and wigs by CST's award-winning designers. The festive atmosphere, featuring lush floral arrangements from Bukiety and striking visuals from MDR Creative Inc., was truly "such stuff as dreams are made of" (The Tempest). Attendees enjoyed a three-course dinner, sponsored by Food For Thought, which was as delicious as it was artful. The main course featured a pairing of Grilled Beef Tenderloin and Butterfish, accompanied by a rainbow of fruit and vegetables-including Compressed Watermelon Relish, Carrot Gratin, Stewed Purpletette Onions and a White Wine Gastrique. Complementing the crisp white décor, the dessert was a White Chocolate Mousse atop a Jasmine Tea Meringue and adorned with White Violas. The meal was paired with wines courtesy of Van Duzer Vineyards.A decadent gourmet dinner for ten on the magnificent Courtyard Theater stage or in the winner's home, catered by James Beard Award-nominated Executive Chef Ryan McCaskey of the Michelin-rated Acadia.
A weeklong Parisian Getaway with accommodations in a fabulous apartment in the 7th Arrondissement and a private tour of the Musee d'Orsay with noted art expert Chris Boicos.
An exclusive day on set with the cast of HBO's hit television series VEEP hosted by star Julia Louis-Dreyfus, capped off by a 4-night stay in the luxurious Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel.
The ultimate Chicago sports package: full access to a luxurious suite for a 2015/16 season Blackhawks game and four tickets in the front row behind home plate for the Crosstown Classic.
Attendees were treated to musical performances by legendary Chicago actress and cabaret performer E. Faye Butler and Broadway actor Sean Allan Krill, who most recently appeared as Colonel Brandon in CST's world premiere musical Sense and Sensibility. Guests also pledged varying levels of direct support to CST's education and community engagement initiatives during a paddle raise.
The GALA 2015 Host Committee included: Allstate Insurance Company - Jess and Amanda Merten; Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott LLP - Mark Ouweleen and Sarah Harding; BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois - Maurice Smith, Nazneen Razi; BMO Harris Bank; Bulley & Andrews; Mr. and Mrs. Lester Crown; Dover Foundation; Exelon - Robin and Steve Solomon; Harve A. Ferrill and Karla Scherer; GCM Grosvenor; JLL; Betsy and Jack Karp; Kirkland & Ellis LLP - Richard Porter and Lydia Marti; KPMG - Charlene and Bill Tomazin; Raymond and Judy McCaskey; Northern Trust; Burton X. and Sheli Z. Rosenberg; John W. and Jeanne M. Rowe; Mr. and Mrs. Patrick G. Ryan; Carole and Gordon Segal; Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom LLP - Brian and Yasmina Duwe; The Sun-Times Foundation/The Chicago Community Trust - Michael and Jacky Ferro and The Donna Van Eekeren Foundation.Videos