Villa Gatsby invites you to channel your inner F. Scott Fitzgerald on September 25.
The Citadel Theatre marks its 20th year with a swanky trip to the Roaring 1920s with its 7th annual gala: Villa Gatsby — “Let the 2020’s Roar,” taking place at 4 p.m. on September 25. The event will take place at the breathtaking David Adler Estate at 830 N. Green Bay Road in Lake Forest.
The Citadel Theatre picked the Jazz Age-theme in order to celebrate its first two fantastic decades. Started in 2002 in the Gorton Community Center basement by a group of actors who wanted Lake Forest to swing like Chicago, the theatre company quickly grew — in scope and vision supported by the community — before moving in 2010 to its current 144-seat theatre in Lake Forest. In 2015, Citadel became an Equity theatre company, and, in 2018, garnered its first Jeff Award.
Hosted by Nancy and Adrian Smith, this night to remember features tours of the main house designed by David Adler, guest house and grounds. Villa Gatsby guests will enjoy an evening of dance, entertainment and a seated dinner that’s guaranteed to be the bee’s knees.
The David Adler Estate is part of the Smith Family Restoration Project, which revitalized a historic home to its true glory. The Citadel 7th Annual Gala is an interactive performance experience, allowing guests to become part of the magic of live theatre.
All proceeds go to funding the Citadel Theatre. If the past 18 months have taught us anything, it’s the importance of connection, community and shared experience. The Citadel is an integral part of the community’s fabric, and, in addition to offering live theatre, it also gives back through Citadel Cares, which has provided more than 500 tickets a year to seniors, military and underserved populations throughout the North Shore as well as scholarship opportunities for its children’s education program.
Citadel Theatre is a haven for artists and a North Shore home for its audiences. Citadel Theatre is committed to producing exciting, compelling, emotionally and intellectually rich work of the highest caliber, by bringing together gifted professionals from all theatrical disciplines.
The Citadel recently closed its production of an original adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland” with original music to sold-out crowds at Mellody Farm Nature Preserve as part of the Lake Forest Open Lands Association.
Join the Citadel for its upcoming 2021-22 season, featuring Neil Simon’s comedy “Brighton Beach Memoirs” (Sept. 17-Oct. 17); Charles M. Schulz’s “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” the musical (Nov. 19-Dec. 23); John Patrick Shanley’s Irish romantic comedy “Outside Mullingar” (Feb. 11-March 13); and Steve Martin’s comedy “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” (April 22-May 22).
For budding young actors, the Citadel Education program will offer the following fall classes: “Once Upon a Stage,” “The Princess and the Ogre,” “Jungle Book,” “Aladdin”and the aptly named “Triple Threat” workshop.
The Citadel is thankful to the amazing gala sponsors, which include Forest & Bluff Magazine; Lake Forest Bank & Trust; Intelligent Lighting Creations (ILC), Visconti Cheese Market & Deli, Northern Trust, Berkshire Hathaway, Smith’s Men’s Store, The Lake Forest Shop, Berger Schatz, Ragsdale Inc., Lisa Wolfe Design and Maureen O’Grady Tuohy, Berkshire Hathaway.
To purchase tickets for Villa Gatsby, click here.
