Girten Hosts 10th Annual Mookie Jam at Lincoln Hall, 7/28

A Red Orchid Ensemble Member Mierka Girten hosts the 10th annual Mookie Jam on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at Lincoln Hall to benefit artists living and working with Multiple Sclerosis. The event will feature improv act TJ & Dave, as well as a silent auction, raffle, and full buffet. All funds raised will be donated to artist Staci Anderson.

After Chicago actress Mierka Girten celebrated numerous successful performances of her darkly humorous and poignant auto-biographical one woman show, With or Without Wings, chronicling her diagnosis and eventual triumph over the debilitating disease of Multiple Sclerosis, the native of Ohio recognized that she wasn't alone in her disease and wanted to give back.

"As an artist who struggled not only with the emotional impact of her diagnosis but the burden of medical bills and treatment -- I had a feeling that I wasn't alone. I want those who are struggling to know that there is a community to support them," says Mierka.

In 2000, Mierka played host to the inaugural Mookie Jam in which she was able to raise cash funds to provide an artist who was suffering from MS with the financial assistance to cover medical bills and additional expenses associated with the disease. Since that first event, Mookie Jam has grown in both ambition and size, with the Jam being hosted by larger venues with bigger acts, and the ability to assist over 10 different artists from throughout the U.S. with more than $50,000 in funds to date.

This year's Mookie Jam, with its anniversary theme of "The Decade of Decadence", will award its grant to Stacie Anderson, a jewelry maker and writer living with M.S.

"My greatest joy in life and the motivation behind my art is my ability to freely walk down the street, to hike secluded trails and to travel to distant countries," explains Anderson. "My greatest fear is that this independence could be stolen from me - at any time."

Mookie Jam cordially invites the generous public to come support this vibrant professional artist in need.

Mookie Jam 2010 promises an eclectic and elegant fundraiser soiree with amazing high-end raffle and silent auction items, a complimentary gourmet buffet and cash bar, a variety of locally renowned live music acts including Steve Frisbie, Ingrid Graudins and Nicholas Barron and very special performances by improv masters TJ and Dave, The Factory Theatre and A Red Orchid Theatre's Youth Ensemble.