Photo Flash: Steppenwolf Presents Their 2010 Red or White Ball

More than 500 of Chicagoland's young professionals will gather for a spectacular evening of cocktails, food, music, dancing, a silent auction and raffle prizes at the Steppenwolf Auxiliary Council's eighth annual Red or White Ball on Friday, April 9, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. The premier event for Chicago's most influential young philanthropists returns to Chicago's unique eco-chic Salvage One, 1840 W. Hubbard St. Proceeds from the Red or White Ball benefit Steppenwolf for Young Adults, the theatre's nationally-recognized arts education program.

Individual tickets for Red or White Ball 2010 start at $125 and can be purchased online at www.steppenwolf.org/rowb, or via e-mail at auxiliarycouncil@steppenwolf.org or by calling (312) 654-5681. A limited number of $250 VIP tickets are also available and include: an exclusive cocktail reception at 7:00 p.m., access to Steppenwolf artists and VIP status all night long.

Guests will enjoy signature Red or White cocktails paired with delectable hors d'oeuvres from Blue Plate Catering and dance to music mixed by DJ Laura Jellum of Toast and Jam DJs.

Last year's Red or White Ball attracted more than 500 guests, raising nearly $90,000 for Steppenwolf for Young Adults. SYA is comprehensive educational initiative that annually serves 15,000 students, teachers and families. The program provides access to the theatre for a broad base of Chicago's youth, ages 12 - 19, and schools throughout the Chicago metropolitan area with a strong focus on partnering with Chicago Public Schools.

The Red or White Ball 2010 Co-Chairs include Alecia C. Dantico, Loren B. Johnson and Laura Schalekamp. Honorary Co-Chairs include playwright Tanya Saracho.

Name of event: Red or White Ball
Date: Friday, April 9, 2010
Time: 8:00 p.m. (VIP reception begins at 7:00 p.m.)
Location: Salvage One, 1840 W. Hubbard St.
Description: The premier event for Chicago's most influential young philanthropists, benefiting Steppenwolf for Young Adults. The evening includes cocktails, food, music, dancing a silent auction and raffle prizes
Ticket prices: $125 individual tickets
$250 VIP tickets (includes exclusive reception, enhanced gift bags and more)

The Steppenwolf Auxiliary Council is a community of over 150 dynamic young professionals who strengthen the theater's ability to advance artistic experimentation and collaboration by developing new financial resources and new audiences for the creation and presentation of innovative theater. Over the past ten years, the Auxiliary Council has provided more than $750,000 in contributions, enabling Steppenwolf to continue its mission of advancing the vitality and diversity of American theater

Steppenwolf for Young Adults' unique approach combines play production with educational components to enhance arts education for young audiences, as well as their teachers and families. SYA creates two full-scale professional productions each season specifically for teens. Working closely with the Chicago Public and metropolitan area schools and other community partners, SYA annually ensures access to the theater for more than 15,000 participants from Chicago's diverse communities. The initiative also includes post-show discussions with artists; classroom residencies led by Steppenwolf-trained teaching artists in more than 30 classrooms in 14 public high schools; professional development workshops for educators; and the Young Adult Council, an innovative year-round after school initiative that uniquely engages high school students in all areas of the theater's operations.

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company's mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon. The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work. Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 42 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting and textual adaptation. For more information, visit www.steppenwolf.org.

Photo by Kyle Flubacker.

Jim Wetzel and Amanda Puck

Guests enjoy Steppenwolf Auxiliary Council’s RED OR WHITE BALL at Salvage One

Guests enjoy Steppenwolf Auxiliary Council’s RED OR WHITE BALL at Salvage One