Photo Flash: First Look at 2014 League of Chicago Theatres' Gala

Chicago, IL-its elegant annual Gala on Monday, June 9, 2014. This one-night-only event brought together friends of Chicago theatre and raised $120,000 for programs to support Chicago's 240 member theatre companies. This year's event was held at the Swissotel Chicago, 323 E Upper Wacker Dr, Chicago. Check out some photos of the event below!

Champions of Chicago theatre honored at this year's event included The Alphawood Foundation, awarded the 2014 Advocacy Award; Michelle Boone, Commissioner, and the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events was honored with the Tribute Award; and the Artistic Excellence Award was awarded to director Gary Griffin. Executive Producer Ben Fuchsen and Executive Director Brad Jayhan-Little accepted the Broadway in Chicago Emerging Theatre Award on behalf of Oracle Productions.

The evening also included cocktails, a seated dinner, live and silent auctions and live performances. Robert Upton, 2014 winner of the Chicago arm of the August Wilson Monologue Competition, performed his winning piece from Wilson's Seven Guitars. In a tribute to Artistic Excellence Award Winner Gary Griffin, numbers from some of Griffin's most notable Chicago productions were performed, including selections from Gypsy, Road Show, and The Color Purple.

League of Chicago Theatres board member Jan Kallish, Producer, Jan Kallish Productions, was the Gala Chair for this year's celebration.

Photo Credit: Kimmy Noonen