Music Theater Works Announces Spring Gala Benefit

On Saturday, April 14, 2018, Music Theater Works will celebrate its 2018 season with the annual spring gala benefit at the Sunset Ridge Country Club in Northfield, Illinois.

This year's theme is "Magical, Musical Moments: An Evening of Sullivan, Porter and Sondheim," in celebration of composers of the 2018 season shows: The Pirates of Penzance, Anything Goes and Into the Woods.

Proceeds will benefit the Music Theater Works 2018 season and Youth Reach programs.

The Music Theater Works benefit committee includes Fran Faller (Skokie), Jefferson C. Collins (Evanston), Diane and Tom Blake (Wilmette), Penelope Boukidis (Libertyville), William Kirchmeyer (Chicago), Electra Kontalonis (Chicago), Mary Nicholas (Evanston), Pamela T. Pettibone (Chicago), Pamela P. Rosenbusch (Evanston), Leslie Sevcik (Evanston) and Catherine Westphal (Glencoe).

The VIP Reception at 4:45 pm, honoring longtime Music Theater Works performer Larry Adams, is hosted by Catherine Westphal and Gary Raphael (Glencoe).

The benefit begins at 5:30 pm with cocktails and a silent auction, followed by dinner at 6:30 pm with performances paired with each course, directed by Music Theater Works artistic director Rudy Hogenmiller.

A raffle drawing will be held to win $1000 cash. Raffle tickets are one for $10, three for $25, seven for $50 and 15 for $100.

Event sponsors include Binny's Beverage Depot, Davenport Designs, First Bank and Trust Evanston, Footlights Magazine, Gemcraft Jewelers, Horizon Photography and Marcus Promotions.

Tickets for the event are $195, $265 and $390 per person, or tables of 10 for $1,950, $2,650 and $3,900. For benefit tickets, call the Music Theater Works box office at (847) 920-5360.

Music Theater Works (formerly Light Opera Works) is a regional professional theater, founded in 1980. The organization produces three shows each year at Cahn Auditorium (a 1,000-seat theater in Evanston), and an annual concert at Nichols Concert Hall (an intimate 450-seat venue in Evanston).

Music Theater Works' mission is to produce musical theater from a variety of world traditions, to engage the community through educational and outreach programs, and to train artists in musical theater.