Joffrey Ballet Spring Gala Gets New Venue, Modern Look

On Saturday night, more than 900 Joffrey Ballet patrons boarded trolleys at the Auditorium Theater and headed to Union Station. Dubbed "The Joffrey Express," the dance company's spring gala was presented by the women's board and included an hour-long performance and dinner and dancing in the downtown venue, which represented a departure from last year's after-party at the Hilton Chicago.

At the train station, Heffernan Morgan's decor included 150-foot tables covered in hundreds of votive candles. Guests sat in Lucite chairs, and an oversize projection screen broadcast black-and-white footage of a train hurtling down tracks. Made of stainless steel, star-like light fixtures that designer Bill Heffernan called "Sputnik chandeliers" illuminated the space.

Christoper Clinton Conway, the ballet's executive director, planned the event with chairs Jason and Yolanda Tyler. Burton and Anne Kaplan were honorary chairs.