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1. Steppenwolf Theatre Gala
Some 650 guests attended the 2009 gala for Chicago’s famed theater. The high-profile evening—which has drawn guests such as Mayor Richard Daley and company member John Malkovich—took place April 18 and included a performance of The Tempest. The gala raised roughly $1.3 million.

2. Lyric Opera’s Opening Night Gala Benefit and Opera Ball
In 2008, this event raised $500,000. Around 3,500 guests attended a performance of French opera Manon; afterward, 700 headed to the Hilton Chicago, where costumed brass musicians heralded each arrival and soprano Natalie Dessay joined guests on the dance floor. This year’s gala will take place September 26.

3. Chicago Symphony Orchestra Opening Night Gala
Star soprano Renée Fleming will perform at the 2009 Chicago Symphony Orchestra gala on October 3, which is expected to raise more than $850,000. After the Symphony Center concert, dinner and dancing will take place at the Chicago Hilton and Towers. Event organizers expect 2,400 guests at the concert and 630 at the ensuing festivities.

4. Ravinia Festival Gala
In 2008, this gala drew 1,000 guests and raised $1.2 million for the oldest summer music festival in North America. The 2009 event will take place July 18. With a “Bicentennial Ball” theme, the evening will feature the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait.”

5. Joffrey Ballet Spring Gala
The Joffrey Ballet’s 2009 spring gala on April 24 drew around 1,000 guests and raised $1.3 million. The event began at the Auditorium Theatre, where Joffrey dancers presented the premiere of Carousel (A Dance). Dinner and dancing at the Chicago Hilton followed. MORE >>

Chicago's Top 100 Events, Steppenwolf Theatre, Lyric Opera, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Ravinia Festival, Joffrey Ballet, Goodman Theatre, Redmoon Theatre, About Face Theatre, Hubbard Street Dance, David Schwimmer, Lookingglass Theatre, League of Chicago Theatres, Chicago Opera Theatre

EVENT REPORT 09.30.08 1:02 PM

Goodman Season-Opening Benefit Follows Turn-of-the-Century Theme

A scene from Turn of the Century
Photo: Liz Lauren

On Friday night, a crowd of local boldface names, including Mayor Richard Daley and his wife, Maggie, attended the world premiere of the Tommy Tune-directed musical Turn of the Century at the Goodman Theatre. The performance was the centerpiece of the theater's three-part season-opening benefit, which began with cocktails and a seated dinner at Standard Club and culminated in post-show cocktails and snacks at Petterino's. A team of three co-chairs—Neal S. Zucker, Cynthia E. Levin, and Cheryl McPhilimy—planned the event.

The musical's story of a time-traveling couple inspired the evening's clock motif, which appeared on the invitation and in gobos that decorated the entrance to Standard Club's dining room. For the three-course dinner of pear and Stilton salad, sliced tenderloin of beef, and chocolate and raspberry almond mousse cake, guests sat at tables that Kehoe Designs decorated in linens of teal and gold—the same hues that appeared in the invite. Silver vases filled with billowy black feathers had a turn-of-the-century aesthetic and evoked some of the costumes featured in the musical. MORE >>

Goodman Theatre, Jeff Bridges, Tommy Tune, Turn of the Century

FEATURE 07.07.08 10:00 AM

Chicago's Top Theater, Dance & Music Events 2008

The Fantasy of the Opera gala
Photo: Dan Rest/Lyric Opera of Chicago

1. Ravinia Festival Gala
In 2007 Placido Domingo and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra headlined the gala, which drew 1,260 attendees and raised $1.7 million for the Ravinia Festival and its school programs. Presented by the women’s board and held at the festival grounds, the event offers V.I.P. and general admission packages. V.I.P.s are invited to preconcert cocktails, receive priority seating at the show, and are invited to a postconcert dinner. This year’s event takes place July 19. MORE >>

Chicago's Top 100 Events, Ravinia Festival, Steppenwolf Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, Goodman Theatre, Lyric Opera House, Lookingglass Theatre, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Hubbard Street Dance, Chicago Opera Theater, Redmoon Theater

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