Chicago Dramatists Presents: The Blue Moon Ball June 16, 2011

Chicago’s Home to Playwrights Toasts 25 Years of Artistic Leadership
by Russ Tutterow

CHICAGO- Chicago Dramatists, known for producing innovative and award-winning work for the American theatre, is proud to announce its annual fundraising gala, the Blue Moon Ball which will take place on Thursday, June 16, 2011 from 5:30 to 10:00pm at Galleria Marchetti, 825 W. Erie Street. Chicago’s philanthropic and artistic communities will gather to honor the outstanding and inspirational work of Chicago Dramatists’ Artistic Director Russ Tutterow. In addition to celebrating this important milestone, the Blue Moon Ball is Chicago Dramatists’ biggest fundraising event and raises funds to support its playwrights’ developmental programs and its educational outreach to more than 400 teenagers at arts-challenged Chicago Public Schools.

The evening will feature cocktails and appetizers followed by a gourmet dinner, a silent auction, and dancing to the hits performed by celebrated performing artists Lynne Jordan and the Shivers. The grand event will mark the end of a season of World Premieres at Chicago Dramatists which included the Jeff-recommended “The Invasion of Skokie” by Steven Peterson, “Bordello” by Aline Lathrop, and “Hickorydickory” by Marisa Wegrzyn, which will be Tutterow’s 25th anniversary production that runs from May 5 through June 12, 2011.

Last year’s soiree celebrated the Broadway success of “A Steady Rain” by Resident Playwright Keith Huff, who will co-chair the 25th Anniversary Ambassadors Committee with acclaimed Playwright and Advisory Board member Rebecca Gilman. “A Steady Rain” premiered at Chicago Dramatists in 2007 and was honored with four Jeff Awards before transferring to the Royal George Theatre in an acclaimed commercial production.

Tutterow’s kind nature and steady hand have been atrademark of Chicago Dramatists since its earliest years. He has been referred to as “the godfather of new plays in Chicago.” Tutterow has also been called a “mentor,” “friend,” “director and dramaturg extraordinaire,” and “the greatest champion of new work.” Since he became its first Artistic Director in 1986, Tutterow has been dedicated to building Chicago Dramatists into the creative entity it is today.

His remarkable record of service started during Chicago Dramatists’ humble and uncertain beginning years at a borrowed theatre space on Clark Street. Tutterow directed Chicago Dramatists’ first production, “Private Meetings in Public Places”, the recent hit production of “A Steady Rain” and scores of other award-winning plays through the years. Most importantly, he has been a fierce advocate for hundreds of Chicago playwrights and has helped transform Chicago into one of this country’s foremost centers for new play development.

Tickets to the Blue Moon Ball start at $150 per person. VIP tickets are $175 and include a pre-event VIP cocktail party with theatrical artists and special guests. To purchase tickets, call (312) 633-0630 or visit www.chicagodramatists.org. Supporters of Russ Tutterow and Chicago Dramatists can also donate to the $25 for 25 years Fund, which can be found on Chicago Dramatists’ website. All proceeds and gifts will honor Tutterow and the playwrights he continues to nurture in the city of Chicago.

About Chicago Dramatists
In the fall of 1979, four playwrights came together to hear their work read aloud and to hone their craft. Today, Chicago Dramatists’ amazing record of achievement has landed it an invaluable place in the artistic community as a vital source of inspiration to 40 resident playwrights, 160 associate playwrights, 60 associate artists, and thousands of audience members. Over the past three decades, Chicago Dramatists has worked with over a thousand playwrights, produced and developed thousands of plays, and stayed true to its mission to nurture compelling, challenging and diverse plays that move on to productions, earn awards, and define the American theatre.

Each season, Chicago Dramatists presents three world premiere productions and the signature Saturday Series, weekly staged readings of plays in progress. The theatre also conducts educational outreach to 400 at-risk students at Chicago Public Schools, awakening the possibility of self-expression by writing for the theatre. Through passionate dedication, personal nurture and careful exposure, Chicago Dramatists carries on its mission of developing new plays and playwrights for the next generation of theatre.

Chicago Dramatists is located just minutes from the Loop at 1105 W. Chicago Avenue, at the 24-hour Chicago Avenue stop of the Blue Line subway, and is just off the Ogden and Augusta exits of the Kennedy Expressway. There is street parking available. For more information visit www.chicagodramatists.org.

Official Website: http://www.chicagodramatists.org/blue_moon_ball