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  1. Venues & Destinations
  2. United States
  3. Chicago

Museum Benefit Gets Food Trucks, Surprise Performances, Lots of Shots

Jenny Berg
June 30, 2011

The Museum of Contemporary Art celebrated the 15th year of its performance program with a June 23 gala called Remixed/Reimagined. "In the past, we've hosted a benefit around a specific performance," said Gina Crowley, director of special events and rentals. "But on this anniversary year, we had a variety of performances staged throughout the museum to highlight the diverse programming of the MCA stage." 

According to Crowley, the greatest challenge of the planning process was "keeping all the details of the event a secret. We wanted to keep each part of the night's journey a surprise." Food trucks replaced buffet stations at the cocktail reception on the plaza. As guests sat on stage road cases eating macaroni and cheese and sweet corn empanadas, an ensemble from JASC Tsukasa Taiko drummers appeared on the front steps and put on a rhythmic show. Mucca Pazza, a local punk marching band, later appeared to announce dinner with trumpets, drums, and pom-pom-accented cheers.

At the end of the Wolfgang Puck-catered dinner, served onstage in the museum's theater, the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus appeared among the audience to belt out an ABBA medley. Some particularly enthused guests rose from their seats to twirl napkins in time to the music, and as "Waterloo" wrapped up, individual chorus members moved from table to table and encouraged partygoers to follow them to the dessert reception in the second-floor atrium. To get there, guests boarded the freight elevator, where an ice bar offered chilled shots for the short ride—and there was plenty more liquor upstairs.

Servers circulated the reception space with lime bars paired with shots of tequila and lemon custard tarts with shots of chilled limoncello; shots of espresso came with the mini doughnuts. Also circulating: a couple of spontaneously boogying break dancers from Dance Works Chicago, and Redmoon Theater performers strolling around with giant red balloons.

E20930last
Photo: Robert Carl
The evening began with a cocktail reception on the plaza, where food trucks replaced traditional food stations.
The evening began with a cocktail reception on the plaza, where food trucks replaced traditional food stations.
Photo: Robert Carl
Food trucks included 5411 Empanadas, which doled out snacks filled with everything from caramelized onions and Parmesan cheese to beef.
Food trucks included 5411 Empanadas, which doled out snacks filled with everything from caramelized onions and Parmesan cheese to beef.
Photo: Robert Carl
The drum ensemble JASC Tsukasa Taiko performed on the museum's front steps during cocktail hour, attracting sidewalk crowds.
The drum ensemble JASC Tsukasa Taiko performed on the museum's front steps during cocktail hour, attracting sidewalk crowds.
Photo: Robert Carl
Mucca Pazza, a self-described 'punk circus marching band,' led guests to dinner.
Mucca Pazza, a self-described "punk circus marching band," led guests to dinner.
Photo: Robert Carl
Dinner took place in the theater. Left Wing Scenic extended the stage to seat 300 guests, and a background screen showed images by artist Sterling Ruby.
Dinner took place in the theater. Left Wing Scenic extended the stage to seat 300 guests, and a background screen showed images by artist Sterling Ruby.
Photo: Josh Sears
Event Creative designed a pink lighting scheme, and Heffernan Morgan Ronsley employed pink box centerpieces and orange table covers. Wolfgang Puck Catering's meal included fried green tomatoes, balsamic watermelon salad, and buttermilk fried chicken with flower cherry honey.
Event Creative designed a pink lighting scheme, and Heffernan Morgan Ronsley employed pink box centerpieces and orange table covers. Wolfgang Puck Catering's meal included fried green tomatoes, balsamic watermelon salad, and buttermilk fried chicken with flower cherry honey.
Photo: Josh Sears
Toward the end of dinner, the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus appeared in the theater to sing an ABBA medley and then escort guests to the cocktail reception.
Toward the end of dinner, the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus appeared in the theater to sing an ABBA medley and then escort guests to the cocktail reception.
Photo: Robert Carl
The dessert reception took place on the museum's second floor, where a buffet area offered buttermilk cake with strawberries and warm chocolate truffle cakes with whipped cream and purple spun sugar.
The dessert reception took place on the museum's second floor, where a buffet area offered buttermilk cake with strawberries and warm chocolate truffle cakes with whipped cream and purple spun sugar.
Photo: Robert Carl
Heffernan Morgan Ronsley supplied sleek white lounge furniture for the reception.
Heffernan Morgan Ronsley supplied sleek white lounge furniture for the reception.
Photo: Robert Carl
The night before the event, Event Creative designers were on site till 4 a.m. setting up the DJ stage and audiovisual equipment. New York-based DJs Eclectic Method spun.
The night before the event, Event Creative designers were on site till 4 a.m. setting up the DJ stage and audiovisual equipment. New York-based DJs Eclectic Method spun.
Photo: Josh Sears
Silver bars anchored both ends of the reception space.
Silver bars anchored both ends of the reception space.
Photo: Josh Sears
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