Harris Theater Gala's IMAGINE THE CELEBRATION with Mark Morris Dance Group Set for 4/5

The Harris Theater for Music and Dance is pleased to announce Imagine the Celebration, the Gala event which will be held on Tuesday, April 5, 2016, hosted by the Harris Theater for Music and Dance and Gala Chairs Jay Franke and David Herro. The internationally renowned Mark Morris Dance Group and Music Ensemble will headline the evening with a performance of Dido and Aeneas. The evening will celebrate the completion of the first phase of the Imagine campaign which made the renovation and expansion of the public space of the Harris Theater possible.

Imagine the Celebration

Imagine the Celebration will be an exclusive evening at the Harris full of entertainment, food, drink, and of course, music and dance. The Gala is a fundraising event to raise $1 million to support the mission of the theater.

Mark Morris Dance Group's performance at 8:00PM will be the centerpiece of the evening's festivities as the group defines artistic perfection with Morris' masterwork, Dido and Aeneas. Based on Henry Purcell's opera, the ballet is performed with a live orchestra and chorus, the Mark Morris Music Ensemble, with Morris as conductor. Mark Morris is hailed as one of the most prodigiously gifted choreographers of his time. A story centered on the nexus of love, sex, destruction and death is prime material for dance. Mark Morris Dance Group embodies these sentiments and packs their movement with meaning.

Prior to the headline performance, the Host Committee and key influencers in the arts community will attend an exclusive pre-performance dinner onstage at the Pritzker Pavilion beginning at 6:00PM. At 6:30PM, a pre-performance buffet reception will take place in the Theater lobbies for gala sponsors. Following the 8:00PM performance of Dido and Aeneas, there will be an after-party in the lobbies for all attendees. Roughly 1,000 of Chicago's most established dance and music enthusiasts will experience the Theater's brand new expanded lobby space with champagne, sweets, and live music from DJ Matt Roan; Mark Morris and dancers of the company will be in attendance.

Gala Chairs & Host Committee

The Gala Chairs for Imagine the Celebration, Jay Franke and David Herro, are staples in the arts and culture scene of Chicago. Mr. Franke is on the Board of Trustees for the Harris Theater, as well as the Artistic Director of the beloved Chicago Dancing Festival, the opening night of which takes place at the Harris each year. Mr. Franke also has an extraordinary performance career; after receiving his BFA in Dance from the Juilliard School, Jay worked with the Twyla Tharp Dance Company "THARP!", The 58 Group, Lyric Opera Ballet Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and was a leading dancer in the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company from 2005-2010.

With Jay's leadership, the 2016 Gala Host Committee is comprised of the city's most prominent civic and business leaders, including:

2016 Imagine the Celebration Gala Host Committee:

Jay Franke and David Herro, 2016 Gala Chairs

Rita and John Canning

Liz and Matt Connelly, JPMorgan Chase

Pamela Crutchfield

Michael and Jacky Ferro, The Sun-Times Foundation/The Chicago Community Trust

Jack and Sandra Guthman

The Harris Family Foundation, Caryn and King Harris

Joan W. Harris

Liz and Eric Lefkofsky

Robert and Diane Levy

George Lucas and Mellody Hobson

Mac MacLellan and Miriam Waltz, The Northern Trust Company

Rocco and Roxanne Martino

Alexandra and John Nichols

Abby McCormick O'Neil and D. Carroll Joynes

Cari and Michael J. Sacks

E. Scott and Nancy Santi, ITW

Opportunities are still available to join the Host Committee alongside some of Chicago's most influential arts philanthropists.

Additional sponsorship opportunities include:

Presenting Sponsors ($50,000)

Lead Sponsors ($25,000)

Underwriting Sponsors ($10,000)

Contributing Sponsors ($5,000)

To become a sponsor, please visit the Imagine the Celebration microsite HERE, or contact Director of Annual Giving and Sponsorships, Amanda Lawson (312-334-2456).

$250 tickets to the Gala performance of Dido and Aeneas by Mark Morris Dance Group are for sale now. $250 ticket buyers are invited to the after-party - purchase HERE.

To post a comment, you must register and login.