This Chicago Gala Flipped Its Skyline-Inspired Decor Upside Down—Literally

CHICAGO—On Saturday, May 13, Steppenwolf Theatre Company held its gala at The Old Post Office for the first time. Among the crowd were actors, theater patrons, and civic and corporate leaders. There was also a slew of “human arrows,” says Courtney Anderson, Steppenwolf’s donor engagement director.

With nine floors and 16 million square feet of space, “The Old Post Office is a beautiful venue, but it is vast,” Anderson emphasizes. “We were concerned about moving our almost 500 guests from arrival to cocktails to dinner officially. We added more staff to be human arrows at every possible ingress and egress, as well as additional time for transitions.”

As guests made their way from one point to the next, having cocktails and appetizers on the second floor and dinner on the first, creative fashion statements spruced up the scene. Galagoers wore everything from metallic fringe to a starry print to an oversize, bejeweled flamingo pin.

The jazzed-up fashion reflected the “Urban Chic” dress code. “While our dress code has never been black-tie, we have noticed that our guests are coming more casual since we reopened,” Anderson notes. (After becoming a virtual gala in 2020, the event was put on pause in 2021. It resumed as an in-person gathering in 2022.)

The 2023 gala ultimately raised more than $1.7 million. According to Anderson, fundraising at the event—which includes a live auction and a paddle raise—accounts for approximately 20% of the evening’s revenue.

Anderson says the evening’s decor “took inspiration from our venue and also the idea that Steppenwolf takes what theater is and flips it. This reflection came from ensemble member and artistic director Audrey Francis and became the upside-down skyline featured above the stage.”Photo: Kyle Flubacker

“What makes Steppenwolf auction packages unique is that they center on our ensemble members in the experiences,” Anderson notes. “We start by working with our artistic directors and their team to identify current and upcoming projects for ensemble members at Steppenwolf, other theaters, or for film or television. We also look at what our visiting artists are working on, which is why we included an on-set experience with [actor] Chris Perfetti at Abbott Elementary.”

The planning team also takes time to ask donors “which aspects of the art-making process they are interested in,” Anderson says. This research led to a 2023 auction lot dubbed “The Playwright’s Package,” which offered dinner in the home of ensemble member Amy Morton with a group of fellow ensemble members who are acclaimed playwrights.

The program also included a tribute to Bruce Sagan and Bette Cerf Hill. The local arts patrons were recognized "for their several decades of dedication to not only Steppenwolf but cultural institutions across Chicago,” Anderson says. “While not programmed for this reason, it did open up additional fundraising avenues with individuals who wanted to show their gratitude and be with Bruce and Bette as we celebrated them.”

The planning team tapped several long-standing partners, including Jeffrey Foster of Frost, to bring the event to life. “Jeffrey has designed our gala for over a decade,” Anderson says, noting that Foster partnered with Revel Decor to produce centerpieces and a sparkling step-and-repeat. Another long-term partner is V.I.P. Valet, which has handled gala parking for some 20 years.

The evening’s program featured gilded touches that complemented the gold-tinged decor.Photo: Kyle Flubacker

The caterer is more subject to change. “We open catering bids a minimum of every three years to ensure we are working with a high-level partner that is staying current on trends in the food and beverage industry,” Anderson says. “Our gala caterer is a partner for the entire season, catering events on our campus throughout the year.”

Paramount Group, which last partnered with Steppenwolf for the 2018-2019 season, catered this year’s gala. The three-course dinner included a salad of artisan greens, avocado mousse, sunflower seeds, puffed grains, and lemon-balsamic vinaigrette. The salad was followed by braised short ribs with stone-ground polenta; dessert was a strawberry-rhubarb cobbler with oat streusel.

The venue will also change periodically. Next year’s event is already slated for May 11 at Bridgeport Art Center.

Keep scrolling for key vendors and more from the 2023 Steppenwolf Theatre Company gala...

VENDORS
Auction: Robbie Gordy
Audiovisual Production: Frost
Catering: Paramount Events
Decor: Revel Decor
DJ/Entertainment: DJ Rae Chardonnay
Fabrication: Frost
Flowers: Revel Decor
Graphic Design: Christopher Huizar for Steppenwolf
Lighting: Frost
Photo Booth/Photography: Kyle Flubacker
Printing: D&B Graphics
Rentals (Specialty Linens): BBJ La Tavola 
Rentals: Hall’s Rental
Valet: V.I.P Valet Services
Venue: The Old Post Office

Revel Decor’s golden step-and-repeat bore the theater company’s name.Photo: Kyle Flubacker

Actor and Steppenwolf ensemble member Gary Cole emceed
the evening’s program. It included a three-course dinner and tributes to donors Bruce Sagan and Bette Cerf Hill, as well as late ensemble member Frank Galati. Cole handed the mic to auctioneer Robbie Gordy for the live auction and paddle raise.Photo: Kyle Flubacker

Frost partnered with Revel Decor for the evening’s design; Frost also handled audiovisual production. The “upside-down skyline” featured mini replicas of Chicago’s iconic buildings, including the Hancock Tower.Photo: Kyle Flubacker

After dinner, guests headed back upstairs for an after-party
with DJ Rae Chardonnay.Photo: Kyle Flubacker