Ruth Page Center for the Arts Honors Christine 'Chrissy' Atterberry at 2017 Legacy Gala

The Ruth Page Center for the Arts will hold its annual Ruth Page Legacy Gala at the Union League Club of Chicago, 65 W. Jackson Blvd., Saturday, May 13. The evening begins at 5:15 p.m. with a VIP Reception, followed by dinner, a live auction, award presentations and dancing from until 11 p.m. The gala chair for the evening is Gloria Materre and the night will be hosted by her sister and Emmy award-winning WGN News Anchor Micah Materre. The live auction will be hosted by Chicago comedian, radio commentator, author and comedian Aaron Freeman. Gala tickets begin at $225 and proceeds from the 2017 Gala support the educational, outreach and artistic programs and services provided by the Ruth Page Foundation and its arts center, the Ruth Page Center for the Arts. To purchase tickets, make a donation or for more information, please visit www.ruthpage.org.

This year, Ruth Page honors former Ruth Page Civic Ballet dancer turned Architect Christine "Chrissy" Atterberry with the 2017 Ruth Page Alumni Award.

"Chrissy has given the Ruth Page Center for the Arts an extraordinary gift, which is her skill as a gifted architect," said Ruth Page Center for the Arts Executive Director Venetia Stifler. "She has selflessly donated her time, talent and expertise to us and our home as we work on capital improvements to the building's infrastructure and undergo renovations to the façade and lobby. Her vision will help keep this building - a building which she considers a second home - a center for all those wanting to be embraced by the arts and continue Ruth Page's legacy. We are most grateful for her generosity," continued Stifler.

About Christine "Chrissy" Atterberry

Atterberry began her studies at The Ruth Page School of Dance at age five with the school's co-founder, Larry Long (1936-2009), as her teacher. She performed first in the Ruth Page Civic Ballet's 1992 presentation of The Nutcracker at Arie Crown Theatre and continues to perform in the company's annual production - 25 seasons and counting. As she continued her dance education throughout the years, during which her family became a fixture within the Ruth Page community as her brother was also student and her parents dedicated volunteers. She went on to graduate from St. Ignatius College Prep and received her degree in architecture from Illinois Institute of Technology. Nearing her almost 10 years with Liederbach & Graham Architects, Atterberry has worked on countless projects ranging from small kitchen renovations to large family estates and everything in between. Most recently, Atterberry has been involved pro-bono in the exterior and interior renovation of the historic 1926 Ruth Page Center for the Arts building, which houses the School of Dance, Ruth Page Theater and Ruth Page Artists In-Residents. Founded in 1971 by Chicago icon and internationally-renown performer, choreographer and dance patron, Ruth Page, The Center reflects her vision of supporting dance excellence in Chicago. As a prominent force in the Chicago arts community, The Ruth Page Center for the Arts continues that legacy through its initiatives and programs that nurture the art form of dance, and by being an arts incubator for emerging and established artists and organizations. Chicago's first ballet company, Chicago Ballet, had its roots here. Lookingglass Theater, Chicago Shakespeare Theater and most recently Chicago Children's Theater have all called The Center home as Artists In-Residence before moving on to establish their own venues. Atterberry also offers her time with the Indiana Youth Ballet as ballet mistress, teaching young dancers many lessons and techniques she learned at the Ruth Page School of Dance.

About the Ruth Page Center for the Arts

The Ruth Page Center for the Arts has for more than 46 years committed its resources to creating a dance destination in Chicago. Located at 1016 N. Dearborn Street, The Center serves the Chicago dance community by being an incubator, providing a home, office space, rehearsal space, performance opportunities, professional dance training, and marketing support for the up-and-coming companies and artists of Chicago's vibrant dance scene.

The Ruth Page Center for the Arts carries forward the mission and vision of its founder, international dance icon Ruth Page (1899-1991), to be a platform for developing great artists and connecting them with audiences and community. With a primary focus on dance as a critical art form, its programming ensures that children and dance artists have a place to train, work and perform at the highest level of excellence. Under the aegis of The Ruth Page Foundation, a 501(c) 3 non-profit charitable organization, The Ruth Page Center nurtures the art form of dance through a unique combination of artistic programs that impact over 40,000 children and adults. The Center's mission not only serves artistic development but also community development.

Emanating from the Illinois heartland, the visionary work of Ruth Page influenced the growth of theater design, opera-ballet, and dance. She achieved worldwide recognition as a true pioneer of dance in America by creating at the forefront of social, political and artistic issues.

About Micah Materre

Micah Materre is an Emmy award winning journalist and anchor of the WGN Evening News and the WGN News at Nine. Prior to being appointed anchor of the WGN News at Nine in 2009, she was co-anchor of WGN Midday News from January, 2003 to October, 2009. Matterre joined Chicago's WGN-TV in January 1998 as a WGN Morning News co-anchor and medical reporter. She has anchored all of the newscasts at WGN, as well as covering entertainment news and special assignment stories, including the historic inauguration of America's first black President. In addition, Materre reports and produces the "Chicago's Very Own" bi-weekly segment for WGN News and she is the host of WGN's public affairs program, "People to People".

About Aaron Freeman
Aaron Freeman is a comedian, filmmaker, director, teacher and radio commentator. He frequently performs with Second City and is a sought-after humorous speaker across America. In 1983, Freeman created and performed the runaway hit satire, Council Wars, a term that has subsequently become a part of Chicago's political vocabulary. For 10 years he hosted a popular television talk show, "Talking with Aaron Freeman," and later hosted and was chief science correspondent for Chicago Public Television's science and technology program "Chicago Tomorrow." Freeman is also well known to Midwestern radio audiences as the former host of his acclaimed weekly NPR show, "Metropolis." Along with long-time friend and collaborator Rob Kolson, Freeman created the long-running political/financial comedy Do the White Thing and its critically lauded sequel, Gentlemen Prefer Bonds.

Photograph of Christine Atterberry courtesy of Ruth Page Center for the Arts

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