On June 10, Chicago Shakespeare Theater held GALA 2019 to award those whose efforts have helped Chicago become a better place through acts of community engagement, artistic leadership, and philanthropy.
This exclusive gathering included a cocktail reception followed by a three-course dinner and a dedicated performance from the cast of popular musical “SIX” — Adrianna Hicks, Andrea Macasaet, Brittney Mack, Abby Mueller, Samantha Pauly, and Anna Uzele. Each cast member started off by performing their individual song and concluded with an eccentric, confetti-filled performance executed by the entire cast.
BMO Harris Bank was named Civic Honoree and “The Chicago Actor” was named Artistic Honoree as part of the Year of Chicago Theatre celebration.
By the end of the night, an impressive $1.2 million was raised for Chicago Shakespeare in Classrooms and Communities, which supports the funding of the theater’s award-winning programs such as CPS Shakespeare as well as the funding of the free citywide Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks tour.
The CPS Shakespeare program was awarded the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award — the highest honor any after-school program can receive — by former First Lady Michelle Obama in 2014. This stellar five-week program not only gives Chicago Public Schools students and their teachers the opportunity to create, rehearse, and eventually perform an original production, but it also allows them to experience a professional live performance.
The sponsors of this year’s GALA included BMO Harris Bank, Exelon Corporation, Harve A. Ferrill, Food for Thought, Kirkland & Ellis, Linda and Dennis Myers, Kevin and Joan Evanich, Burton X. and Sheli Z. Rosenberg, Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Foundation, and the Segal Family Foundation.
To learn more about Chicago Shakespeare Theater and GALA 2019, visit chicagoshakes.com or check out their Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram.
Lily Yu was born and raised in Chicago but eventually found herself studying in the heart of the cornfields at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is majoring in business management and marketing, and is a proud supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
