On Saturday night, the Ravinia gala celebrated the 75th anniversary of George Gershwin's 1936 appearance at the Highland Park venue. When the legendary composer himself appeared, guests climbed into surrounding trees to get a better look at him; enthusiasm for Gershwin was also abundant at the gala, which included a Chicago Symphony Orchestra concert of some of his most famous works. The event raised more than $1 million for the festival's Reach Teach Play programs, which fund music education in local schools.
Non-gala guests—just there to listen to the concert from the lawn—underscored the evening's celebratory vibe by covering makeshift picnic tables with flowery centerpieces, candelabra, and elaborate food spreads. One attendee even spruced up his white T-shirt with a jaunty bow tie. More than 800 other guests paid $750 a pop to attend the black-tie dinner that followed the concert, and co-chairs Gail Hodges and Susan Schmitt made sure every aspect of the evening nodded to the man of honor.
"We began setting the theme and feel of the evening with an invitation design executed by the Ravinia graphics team that is reminiscent of the work of Vassily Kandinsky, an artist whose works the Gershwins owned," Hodges said. The event's painterly "By George!" logo carried over from the invite into on-site signage and the labels of custom water bottles staffers distributed to guests before the concert.
In the dinner tent, Event Creative's decorative scheme was inspired by the song "Summertime." Grass-green linens from BBJ covered dinner tables, and eight-foot-tall centerpieces sprouted sunny yellow calla lilies. Food for Thought's menu included a signature cocktail dubbed "Strike Up the Band." Called "Cuban Overture," the first course was shrimp ceviche, and the "American in Paris" entrée included filet mignon au poivre with artichoke dauphinoise and jumbo asparagus. A fruity dessert called "Rhapsody in Blueberries" finished the meal.