Porchlight Music Theatre's 2015 ICONS Gala to Honor Elaine Stritch

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the 2015 ICONS Gala will celebrate the legendary career of Elaine Stritch, Sunday, April 12, 2015, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., at the Grand Ballroom, InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, 505 N. Michigan Ave. The Gala will include performances from Chicago's leading music theatre actors in a tribute to Ms. Stritch, the presentation of the 2015 Guy Adkins Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Music Theatre in Chicago, silent and live auctions and the announcement of Porchlight's 21st Season. The fundraising gala will kick off Porchlight's 21st Anniversary of creating "American Musicals. Chicago Style." Proceeds from the event and its accompanying auction benefit Porchlight's educational programs and productions. Ticket information will be released soon.

The ICONS Gala is Porchlight's signature annual benefit, paying tribute to a person who has forever changed the landscape of American music theatre. This year's icon subject is Elaine Stritch, dubbed by the British press as "Broadway's last first lady." Stritch an actress, singer and entertainer was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1995. Best known for her big voice, brassy approach to acting and no holds barred attitude passed away at the age of 89 in July 2014. Once Ms. Stritch sang a song, it instantly became a "Stritch Standard," many of which will be performed at the ICONS Gala including music by Stephen Sondheim, Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, Noel Coward and more.

Another highlight of the ICONS Gala is the presentation of this year's Guy Adkins Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Music Theatre in Chicago honoring one of the Chicago community's own music theatre masters. Past recipients include actors Paula Scrofano and Hollis Resnik, music director/conductor Doug Peck and director/artistic director L. Walter Stearns. The 2015 recipient will be named in spring 2015 before the April 12 Gala.

Porchlight Music Theatre, currently celebrating its 20th season, is nationally recognized for developing innovative new works, reimagining classic productions and showcasing musical theatre's noted veterans and rising stars. Porchlight elevates the genre in Chicago by providing intimate and powerful experiences and opportunities for growing, diverse

audiences. With the vision of Managing Artistic Director Michael Weber, Porchlight builds on its role as Chicago's leading music theatre producer. Porchlight's rich history includes the staging of more than 50 productions with 12 Chicago premieres and five world premieres. Through Porchlight's "Off the Porch" new works program, the musicals of the next generation are developed and given a first audience. Most recently premiered through this process,

BEST MUSICAL! A Completely Improvised Musical Comedy! enjoyed a smash engagement at The Second City's UP Comedy Club. The School at Porchlight is Chicago's new center for music theatre training in the areas of performance, writing and appreciation. The company has received a total of 85 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations resulting in 26 Jeff Awards, most recently garnering the 2013 Jeff Award for Best Production for the Chicago Premiere of A Class Act.