About Face Theatre turns 30 in 2025

On November 7 About Face Theatre celebrated 30 years of success by throwing a celebration and fundraiser at Venue West in Chicago. New trophies were given out at the ceremony in honor of an AFT founding member with Tony Alvarado Rivera and Moises Villada as the first recipients of the Brian Goodman Shooting Star Awards. Their accomplishments were not the only ones recognized during the special evening. Steven Solomon and the Slo 'Mo collective were presented Leppen Leadership Awards by Michael Leppen and others.

Singer and trans icon Honey West hosted the program and delved into LGBTQ+ history in her speech. Jyreika Guest performed a powerful reading of On the Record by Vernita Gray and Will Willhem ended the night with excerpts of the 2023 production of GenderPlay, or What You Will.

A Mediterranean-focused buffet and heavily passed appetizers kept the hunger pangs away and an open bar mixed together beverages to wash the hummus down.

Paddles in the form of numbers on paper were raised for monetary donations and silent auction items graced tables for bidding opportunities.

With multiple generations of the queer community in the room, the gathering became a safe space for all to ignore the outside world and reflect on the theater company's vital work.

The group kicked off season 30 last month that will continue into next year with the interactive play We Could Be: The Future of Sex Ed and it was announced that more is in store for the piece with further development on a tour.

This fall, more information on the 30th anniversary production season, including the third annual Re/Generation, is expected.

For upcoming programming from the troupe visit aboutfacetheatre.com.