About Face Theatre Announces Wonka Ball
Thu. April 13, 2006 12:00 AM
Le Wonka Ball 2006 to be co-chaired by Chicago's own Ted Grady, Lance Lawson and Amanda Shipp
Chicago, IL -
About Face Theatre continues its 10th Anniversary Season with the announcement of Le Wonka Ball 2006, the theatre’s annual benefit. This season’s most exciting theatre gala will be held on May 11, 2006 at Germania Place, 108 W. Germania, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
"We are thrilled to be hosting our annual gala at the gorgeous Germania Place this year, and are amazingly grateful for the support of our chairs, Ted Grady, Lance Lawson, and Amanda Shipp, as well as an incredible Host Committee and group of sponsors," says About Face Theatre Executive Director, Greg Copeland. "As the culmination of our 10th Anniversary celebration, Le Wonka Ball 2006 will bring together About Face artists and friends from our past ten years for an unbelievably fun – and this year, delightfully air-conditioned! – evening of French-inspired frivolite."
This year, Le Wonka Ball will match the beautiful, turn-of-the-century elegance of Germania Place with a sexy Moulin Rouge sensibility – anything goes at Le Wonka Ball! Well known in the theatre and GLBT communities to be one of the hottest, largest, and most thrilling benefits of the season, this year’s event will not disappoint. The evening features buffets and incredible passed hors d’oeuvres from Chicago’s finest caterers, including the always-exquisite stylings and dishes of J&L Catering, as well as open bars donated by Sidetrack, Absolut and Clos du Bois. Guests will mingle amongst one of Chicago’s best silent auctions with items including an exciting weekend getaway to the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay Resort in California and products and merchandise from some of the area’s most coveted retailers and businesses. And of course, Le Wonka Ball will be filled with plenty of music, dancing, and entertainment!
Le Wonka Ball will also host a VIP reception from 5:30 – 7:00pm, directly before the event opens to the public. VIP guests will have the chance to meet and chat with About Face Artistic Director Eric Rosen, as well as several artists that have called About Face home through the years—including About Face co-founder Kyle Hall. In addition, VIP guests will have access to the VIP balcony overlooking the Grand Ballroom all evening with specialty cocktails and special anniversary treats, be present for the annual presentation of the Leppen Leadership Awards honoring Greg Cameron and Gay Games VII Chicago 2006 and will part with one of the coolest gift bags seen yet—filled with high- end products from some of the country’s most amazing lines.
Le Wonka Ball 2006 is co-chaired by Ted Grady (President of J&L Catering), Lance Lawson (Co-owner of Jake Boutiques), and Amanda Shipp (Executive Vice President of Public Relations, The Experiential Agency). Sponsors for the event include Platinum Sponsors Jake, J&L Catering, and Sidetrack; Silver Sponsors Absolut Vodka and Clos du Bois; Bronze Sponsors BBJ Linens, Cortés Catering, Occasions Chicago Catering, and Tablescapes; with Gold Sponsor Chicago Magazine as the Exclusive Media Sponsor.
VIP tickets are $250 and include admittance to all of Le Wonka Ball 2006 including the VIP reception from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Germania Place, name recognition in the Wonka Ball 2006 program, and the high-end gift bag. Regular Admittance Tickets are $175 and allow access to Le Wonka Ball activities starting at 6:30 p.m. Valet service will be provided for all guests. Tickets can be purchased by calling 773.784.8565 or by visiting www.aboutfacetheatre.com.
For more information, please call Mollie Speer, Manager of Individual Giving & Special Events, at 773.784.8565 x110.
LEPPEN LEADERSHIP AWARD HONOREES:
GREG CAMERON has been the Deputy Director and Chief Development Officer at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago since June 2005. Previous to that, Cameron served as the MCA’s Chief Development Officer and held several key positions in the areas of corporate, foundation, and government relations in the development office. Cameron, who is a former member of the About Face Board of Directors, has always taken an active role in cultural development, serving as the Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations at The Art Institute of Chicago from 1994-97, and as Development Coordinator at the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs from 1986-88. He has also been a strong supporter of civic and cultural involvement and participates as a board member at the Arts & Business Council of Chicago, the AIDS Legal Council, the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association, and the University of Chicago Children’s Hospital Friends Against AIDS.
GAY GAMES VII CHICAGO 2006 Gay Games VII Sports & Cultural Festival is coming to Chicago July 15-22, 2006. The Gay Games will bring together the Chicago area like never before in an event that will generate $50 to $80 million in local economic impact. Sports & culture venues are spread throughout the city’s neighborhoods plus Evanston, Oak Park and Crystal Lake. Support and volunteers from all parts of the city’s LGBT community is being combined with unprecedented cooperation with local and state government, the corporate sector, and the broadest coalition of LGBT community organizations ever assembled. The Gay Games will have a significant long-term impact on LGBT tourism, volunteer capacity and potential for corporate support of initiatives important to our community.
About Face Theatre creates exceptional, innovative, and adventurous plays to advance the national dialogue on gender and sexual identity, and to challenge and entertain audiences in Chicago, across the country, and around the world. About Face has three programming arms: its award-winning Mainstage Season, its innovative New Works Program, and our nationally recognized Education Programs, including the celebrated About Face Youth Theatre and Educational Outreach tour that collectively reach over 10,000 Illinois students and teachers each year. Currently celebrating its 10th anniversary, About Face has developed and produced over 30 new productions for Chicago audiences, including 25 world premieres, by emerging and national-level theatre artists. Plays developed by About Face have been seen across the country to critical acclaim, and have been awarded with the Jeff Award, After Dark Award, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and the Tony Award for Best Play. About Face has been recognized through the Human First Award, the GLSEN Pathfinder Award, and induction into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame. Please visit www.aboutfacetheatre.com for more information.
"We are thrilled to be hosting our annual gala at the gorgeous Germania Place this year, and are amazingly grateful for the support of our chairs, Ted Grady, Lance Lawson, and Amanda Shipp, as well as an incredible Host Committee and group of sponsors," says About Face Theatre Executive Director, Greg Copeland. "As the culmination of our 10th Anniversary celebration, Le Wonka Ball 2006 will bring together About Face artists and friends from our past ten years for an unbelievably fun – and this year, delightfully air-conditioned! – evening of French-inspired frivolite."
This year, Le Wonka Ball will match the beautiful, turn-of-the-century elegance of Germania Place with a sexy Moulin Rouge sensibility – anything goes at Le Wonka Ball! Well known in the theatre and GLBT communities to be one of the hottest, largest, and most thrilling benefits of the season, this year’s event will not disappoint. The evening features buffets and incredible passed hors d’oeuvres from Chicago’s finest caterers, including the always-exquisite stylings and dishes of J&L Catering, as well as open bars donated by Sidetrack, Absolut and Clos du Bois. Guests will mingle amongst one of Chicago’s best silent auctions with items including an exciting weekend getaway to the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay Resort in California and products and merchandise from some of the area’s most coveted retailers and businesses. And of course, Le Wonka Ball will be filled with plenty of music, dancing, and entertainment!
Le Wonka Ball will also host a VIP reception from 5:30 – 7:00pm, directly before the event opens to the public. VIP guests will have the chance to meet and chat with About Face Artistic Director Eric Rosen, as well as several artists that have called About Face home through the years—including About Face co-founder Kyle Hall. In addition, VIP guests will have access to the VIP balcony overlooking the Grand Ballroom all evening with specialty cocktails and special anniversary treats, be present for the annual presentation of the Leppen Leadership Awards honoring Greg Cameron and Gay Games VII Chicago 2006 and will part with one of the coolest gift bags seen yet—filled with high- end products from some of the country’s most amazing lines.
Le Wonka Ball 2006 is co-chaired by Ted Grady (President of J&L Catering), Lance Lawson (Co-owner of Jake Boutiques), and Amanda Shipp (Executive Vice President of Public Relations, The Experiential Agency). Sponsors for the event include Platinum Sponsors Jake, J&L Catering, and Sidetrack; Silver Sponsors Absolut Vodka and Clos du Bois; Bronze Sponsors BBJ Linens, Cortés Catering, Occasions Chicago Catering, and Tablescapes; with Gold Sponsor Chicago Magazine as the Exclusive Media Sponsor.
VIP tickets are $250 and include admittance to all of Le Wonka Ball 2006 including the VIP reception from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Germania Place, name recognition in the Wonka Ball 2006 program, and the high-end gift bag. Regular Admittance Tickets are $175 and allow access to Le Wonka Ball activities starting at 6:30 p.m. Valet service will be provided for all guests. Tickets can be purchased by calling 773.784.8565 or by visiting www.aboutfacetheatre.com.
For more information, please call Mollie Speer, Manager of Individual Giving & Special Events, at 773.784.8565 x110.
LEPPEN LEADERSHIP AWARD HONOREES:
GREG CAMERON has been the Deputy Director and Chief Development Officer at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago since June 2005. Previous to that, Cameron served as the MCA’s Chief Development Officer and held several key positions in the areas of corporate, foundation, and government relations in the development office. Cameron, who is a former member of the About Face Board of Directors, has always taken an active role in cultural development, serving as the Director of Foundation and Corporate Relations at The Art Institute of Chicago from 1994-97, and as Development Coordinator at the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs from 1986-88. He has also been a strong supporter of civic and cultural involvement and participates as a board member at the Arts & Business Council of Chicago, the AIDS Legal Council, the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association, and the University of Chicago Children’s Hospital Friends Against AIDS.
GAY GAMES VII CHICAGO 2006 Gay Games VII Sports & Cultural Festival is coming to Chicago July 15-22, 2006. The Gay Games will bring together the Chicago area like never before in an event that will generate $50 to $80 million in local economic impact. Sports & culture venues are spread throughout the city’s neighborhoods plus Evanston, Oak Park and Crystal Lake. Support and volunteers from all parts of the city’s LGBT community is being combined with unprecedented cooperation with local and state government, the corporate sector, and the broadest coalition of LGBT community organizations ever assembled. The Gay Games will have a significant long-term impact on LGBT tourism, volunteer capacity and potential for corporate support of initiatives important to our community.
About Face Theatre creates exceptional, innovative, and adventurous plays to advance the national dialogue on gender and sexual identity, and to challenge and entertain audiences in Chicago, across the country, and around the world. About Face has three programming arms: its award-winning Mainstage Season, its innovative New Works Program, and our nationally recognized Education Programs, including the celebrated About Face Youth Theatre and Educational Outreach tour that collectively reach over 10,000 Illinois students and teachers each year. Currently celebrating its 10th anniversary, About Face has developed and produced over 30 new productions for Chicago audiences, including 25 world premieres, by emerging and national-level theatre artists. Plays developed by About Face have been seen across the country to critical acclaim, and have been awarded with the Jeff Award, After Dark Award, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and the Tony Award for Best Play. About Face has been recognized through the Human First Award, the GLSEN Pathfinder Award, and induction into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame. Please visit www.aboutfacetheatre.com for more information.