Deann Bayless

The Bayless Family Foundation has revealed the winners of two major theater grants.

The Bayless Family Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2023 Stepping Stone Grant for Chicago theaters.

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre announces Porchlight ICONS: Celebrating Ben Vereen, Friday, Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Athenaeum Center, 2936 N. Southport Ave.

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre announced last night at Chicago Sings Broadway Pop that the 2023 ICONS Gala, Porchlight’s signature fundraising event, will be held Friday, Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton Chicago at Water Tower Place, 160 E. Pearson St.

Porchlight Music Theatre was joined by nearly 200 people to launch its 28th season, honor the 2022 ICON Award recipient, one of Broadway’s foremost singing and dancing leading ladies, Tony Award winner Donna McKechnie,  present The Luminary Award to Dan Ratner and The Genevieve and Daniel Ratner Foundation and raise funds for its artistic and educational programs. Check out photos!

Cortney Hall and Matthew Rodrigues of “Chicago Today” on NBC5 will be hosting Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre fundraising event, the ICONS Gala. The ICONS Gala, chaired by Joe Higgins and Scott Hoesman, will be Friday, Sept. 23 at 5:30 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago.

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre has announced this year’s recipient of the ICON Award is one of Broadway’s foremost singing and dancing leading ladies, Tony Award winner Donna McKechnie.

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre celebrated 26 years as the center for music theatre in Chicago, honored actor, singer, dancer Chita Rivera with The ICON Award, Rick and Deann Bayless and the Bayless Family Foundation with the Luminary Award and Latino business and civic leaders as 2021 Scene Changers at its 2021 ICONS Gala.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced that actor, singer, dancer Chita Rivera will be honored with The ICON Award and Rick and Deann Bayless and the Bayless Family Foundation will be presented with the Luminary Award at the 2021 ICONS Gala celebrating 26 years of Porchlight as the center for music theatre in Chicago.

Lookingglass Theatre Company has announced their 2021 gglassquerade unGALA, a virtual event in support of the Tony Award-winning Lookingglass Theatre Company. Stay home, stay safe, stay cozy, and all the while, sustain America's most innovative ensemble-based theatre.

Porchlight Music Theatre held PorchlightPalooza, a three-day virtual festival Friday, Aug. 21 - Sunday, Aug. 23,  in lieu of its cancelled March 23 ICONS GALA.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced a new three-day celebration and fundraiser in honor of its 25th Anniversary, PorchlightPalooza, Friday, Aug. 21 - Sunday, Aug. 23, which will include performances from Chicago's best talents, an exclusive interview hosted by legendary newsman Bill Kurtis with the 2020 ICON Award recipient Joel Grey and more.

Porchlight Music Theatre announces a new three-day celebration in honor of its 25th Anniversary, PorchlightPalooza, Friday, Aug. 21 - Sunday, Aug. 23.

Porchlight Music Theatre announced today that its 25th Anniversary ICONS Gala honoring Broadway legend Joel Grey scheduled for Monday, March 23, at the Ritz-Carlton, 160 E. Pearson St. has been postponed.

Porchlight Music Theatre announced today that its 25th Anniversary ICONS Gala honoring Broadway legend Joel Grey scheduled for Monday, March 23, at the Ritz-Carlton, 160 E. Pearson St. has been postponed. 

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre has announced that artists from the worlds of music theatre and dance will be performing at the ICONS Gala celebrating 25 years of Porchlight as the center for music theatre in Chicago, Monday, March 23, at the Ritz-Carlton, 160 E. Pearson St. Performances, directed by Porchlight Music Theatre's Artistic Director Michael Weber, will commemorate the impressive body of work from its 2020 ICON award recipient and Broadway legend Joel Grey who will be in attendance to receive the award.

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre has announced that Arlen and Elaine Cohen Rubin will be honored with The Luminary Award at the ICONS Gala celebrating 25 years of Porchlight as the center for music theatre in Chicago, Monday, March 23, at the Ritz-Carlton, 160 E. Pearson St. The Chicago-based couple will join Broadway legend Joel Grey who will be in attendance to receive the ICON Award at the 2020 ICONS Gala with proceeds benefiting Porchlight's artistic and youth education programs.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced that actor, singer, dancer, director and photographer Joel Grey will be honored at the 2020 ICONS Gala celebrating 25 years of Porchlight as the center for music theatre in Chicago, Monday, March 23, at the Ritz-Carlton, 160 E. Pearson St. The ICONS Gala's 25th Anniversary co-chairs are Rick and Deann Bayless and Bill Kurtis and Donna La Pietra.

Porchlight Music Theatre's 25th anniversary season began with the 14th Annual Chicago Sings concert: Chicago Sings 25 Years of Porchlight, Monday, Aug. 5 at 7 p.m., at The Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave, directed by Christopher Pazdernik and Artistic Director Michael Weber with music direction by David Fiorello and a band featuring Kelsey Boltz, Cara Hartz, John McCreary, Greg Strauss, Celeste Park and Jake Saleh.

As Porchlight Music Theatre is set to launch its 25th Anniversary Season as Chicago's center for music theatre, it celebrated 24 years and announced its 25th Anniversary co-chairs at the 2019 ICONS Gala Sunday, March 31 at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago, 160 E. Pearson. The 2019 ICONS GALA set a new attendance record with 300 guests in attendance and raised more funds that directly benefit Porchlight's artistic and educational programs than previous events. The elegant Gala Brunch, chaired by Tamara Sims, included performances from Chicago's leading talents celebrating the legendary career of Jerome Robbins, the presentation of The Luminary Award to Jean Klingenstein, introduced the 25th Anniversary chairs: RIck and Deann Bayless and Bill Kurtis and Donna La Pietra and silent and live auctions.