Renée Elise Goldsberry to Headline Goodman Theater's Gala Fundraiser

Tony® Award winning Broadway star Renée Elise Goldsberryheadlines Goodman Theatre's May 19 "Ruby Night" spring fundraising gala, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Women's Board. Goldsberry originated the role of Angelica Schuyler in the musical phenomenon Hamilton (on and off-Broadway)-a performance praised as "lovely, pure-voiced (that) will make you demand a spinoff musical all her own" (Time Out New York)-and garnered the Tony, Grammy, Drama Desk and Lucille Lortel Awards. The black-tie event takes place on Saturday, May 19 at The Fairmont Chicago (200 N. Columbus Dr.), beginning at 6:30pm with a cocktail reception, followed by the performance, an elegant three-course dinner and dancing to the Gentlemen of Leisure. Event Co-Chairs are Joan E. Clifford, Swati Mehta and Alice Sabl. Tickets start at $1,000; call 312.443.3811 ext. 586 or visit GoodmanTheatre.org/Gala2018. All proceeds benefit Goodman Theatre's Education and Engagement programs. Media interested in covering the event should call 312.443.5569.

Goldsberry's theater credits also include her Outer Critics Circle Award nominated-performance opposite Frances McDormand in Good People, as well as the original Broadway company of The Color Purple. She made her Broadway debut in The Lion King and was the final actor to portray Mimi in the 12-year Broadway run of Rent. Her off-Broadway appearances include several Shakespeare productions for The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park. Goldsberry can currently be seen in the Netflix series Altered Carbon. Additional television credits include Baz Luhrmann's The Get Down, the title role in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacksopposite Oprah Winfrey, The Good Wife, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and The Following. She was nominated twice for a Daytime Emmy Award for her performance on One Life to Live. Goldsberry's most recent film credits include appearances in Sisters with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, and in Every Secret Thing with Diane Lane and Elizabeth Banks.

The Goodman's "Ruby Night" Spring Gala is presented by The Women's Board, which celebrates 40 years this season.

Since its inception in 1978, Goodman Theatre Women's Board-currently under the leadership of President Cynthia K. Scholl-has raised more than 43 million dollars in support of 38 Goodman productions and an array of educational programs through special events and projects. Members serve on committees for the annual Goodman Theatre Gala, the Goodman Auction, the Women's Board Annual Appeal and the Education and Community Engagement Committee. The Board also provides support for Capital and Endowment initiatives, both personally and through solicitations. Monies raised support all aspects of the theater-including the sponsorship of one production per season. A major initiative has been increasing support for the Goodman's productions and numerous educational and community programs, which offer myriad opportunities for students and audience members of all ages. Through programs such as the Student Subscription Series, serving Chicago Public and underserved Parochial High Schools, General Theater Studies summer program, the Cindy Bandle Young Critics theater criticism program for young women, CONTEXT: Discourse and Discussion community forums, and a theater-wide Internship Program, the Goodman and the Women's Board strive to engage audiences in deeper exploration of the work on the Goodman's stages.

ABOUT Goodman Theatre

AMERICA'S "BEST REGIONAL THEATRE" (Time magazine), Goodman Theatre is a premier not-for-profit organization distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and civic engagement. Led by Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, the theater's artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres), large scale musical theater works and reimagined classics (celebrated revivals include Falls' productions of Death of a Salesman and The Iceman Cometh). Goodman Theatre artists and productions have earned two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards, over 160 Jeff Awards and many more accolades. In addition, the Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson's "American Century Cycle" and its annual holiday tradition A Christmas Carol, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this season, has created a new generation of theatergoers. The Goodman also frequently serves as a production partner with local off-Loop theaters and national and international companies by providing financial support or physical space for a variety of artistic endeavors.

Committed to three core values of Quality, Diversity and Community, the Goodman proactively makes inclusion the fabric of the institution and develops education and community engagement programs that support arts as education. This practice uses the process of artistic creation to inspire and empower youth, lifelong learners and audiences to find and/or enhance their voices, stories and abilities. The Goodman's Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement is the home of such programming, most offered free of charge, and has vastly expanded the theater's ability to touch the lives of Chicagoland citizens (with 85% of youth participants coming from underserved communities) since its 2016 opening.

Goodman Theatre was founded by William O. Goodman and his family in honor of their son Kenneth, an important figure in Chicago's cultural renaissance in the early 1900s. The Goodman family's legacy lives on through the continued work and dedication of Kenneth's family, including Albert Ivar Goodman, who with his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton, contributed the necessary funds for the creation of the new Goodman center in 2000.

Today, Goodman Theatre leadership also includes the distinguished members of the Artistic Collective: Brian Dennehy, Rebecca Gilman, Henry Godinez, Dael Orlandersmith, Steve Scott, Chuck Smith, Regina Taylor,Henry Wishcamper and Mary Zimmerman. David W. Fox, Jr. is Chair of Goodman Theatre's Board of Trustees, Cynthia K. Scholl is Women's Board President and Justin A. Kulovsek is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Broski

To post a comment, you must register and login.