Tommy Tune Helps Chicago Human Rhythm Project Celebrate 25th Anniversary

The Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP), celebrating 25 years of creating community through American tap and contemporary percussive arts in world-class, innovative performance, education and outreach programs, welcomed 10-time Tony Award winner Tommy Tune at its 25th Anniversary Jubalee Gala. This special evening, hosted by WGN's Dean Richards, took place July 30 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago. Attended by 270 people, the event raised $212,000 from a combination of ticket sales, silent and live auction proceeds, table sponsorships and individual and corporate contributions.

JUBA! Award and performance

At the Jubalee, Tune performed his one-man show Taps, Tunes and Tall Tales, an autobiographical stroll celebrating 50-plus years of big-time showmanship-from his arrival in New York City as a fresh-faced kid from Texas, through his most popular roles on stage and screen, to his ascension as one of Broadway's most accomplished director-choreographers. Accompanied by Michael Biagi, his music director for nearly four decades, Tune shared personal renditions of standards by Irving Berlin, Kurt Weill, Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, Burt Bacharach, the Gershwins, Carole King, Green Day and more.

CHRP also presented Tune with its 25th Anniversary JUBA! Award for Extraordinary Lifetime Achievement. Tune joins the distinguished company of past JUBA! Award recipients, including Gregory Hines, Bill Irwin, Savion Glover, Fayard Nicholas, Mayor and Mrs. Richard M. Daley, Ted and Susan Oppenheimer, Bill Kurtis and Donna LaPietra, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Patti Eylar and Charles Gardner and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, among others. The evening also included a cocktail reception, dinner and live and silent auctions.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel was Honorary Chair of the Jubalee. Co-Chairs included Lane Alexander, Elaine Cohen and Arlen Rubin, Phil and Marsha Dowd, Paul Levy and Mia Park, Michael Foster, Charles Gardner and Patti Eylar, Diana E. Harris, David Herro and Jay Franke, Bill Kurtis and Donna LaPietra, Cari and Barry Shein, and Richard and Diane Weinberg. Presenting sponsors included Broadway in Chicago, BMO Harris Bank, SPLASH, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and the Jeanette and Jerome Cohen Philanthropic Fund.