Steppenwolf Gala Transports Guests to a Glitzy Prairie

Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater Company hosted its annual gala on May 3, drawing 600 guests and raising $1.2 million. The event started at the company's Lincoln Park home base, where guests watched scenes from Mona Mansour's play The Way West. The ensuing dinner-dance, held in a tent spanning the theater's adjacent parking lot, had a look inspired by the current production.

"The artistic team at Steppenwolf challenged us to take the theme of 'prairie' and create a sophisticated and elevated [decor scheme], but with a sense of humor," said Event Creative senior designer Jeffrey Foster. "Oversize silhouettes of Steppenwolf productions became a mountain range, and an illustrated prairie sunset was projected in the background." Here's a look inside the evening.