Steppenwolf Theatre Co Presents GALA 2010: Choose to Believe 5/8

Steppenwolf celebrates its 34th season with GALA 2010: Choose to Believe on Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at Steppenwolf Theatre Company (1650 N. Halsted St.) and this year's spacious new reception venue: Structured Development's TruServe Building, 1460 N. Halsted St. Single tickets and tables are currently available by contacting Steppenwolf's Special Events Department at (312) 654-5632 or specialevents@steppenwolf.org.

Steppenwolf's Gala attracts 700 members of Chicago's corporate, civic and cultural communities. Members of the renowned Steppenwolf ensemble annually reunite in Chicago to host this special evening. Their presence offers guests a unique opportunity to personally connect with the artists of the theater.

GALA 2010 kicks off at Steppenwolf Theatre Company with a short selection from Steppenwolf's production of Samuel Beckett's Endgame, directed by ensemble member Frank Galati, featuring ensemble members Ian Barford, Francis Guinan, Martha Lavey and William Petersen.

Following the performance, the party will move two blocks south to this year's new reception venue, Structured Development's TruServe Building, a 15,000 square-foot space featuring theatrically-inspired décor by Heffernan and Morgan and a breathtaking view of Chicago's skyline. The evening continues with a cocktail reception and dinner prepared by Limelight Catering. The annual live auction will feature once-in-a-lifetime adventures with Steppenwolf ensemble members and artists. Guests will cap off the evening with dancing and live music by Steppenwolf co-founder Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band.

Some of this year's live auction prizes include:

A private on-set visit for four to ABC's hit TV series Modern Family with actor Eric Stonestreet, who plays Cameron. Includes hotel stay and round-trip airfare.
Dinner for eight at the home of Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning Steppenwolf ensemble member Tracy Letts, prepared by Chef Michael Kornick of Chicago's MK Restaurant. Guests of honor include Tracy Letts and Steppenwolf ensemble member Amy Morton.
A private on-set visit for four to NBC's hit TV series Parks and Recreation with actor Nick Offerman, who plays Ron Swanson. Includes lunch with Nick Offerman, hotel stay and round-trip airfare.
A private dinner for ten with Steppenwolf ensemble member John Malkovich at Chicago's Elysian Hotel prepared by Executive Chef Jason McLeod. Includes hotel stay in Elysian suites.
Tickets for four to the 6th annual CSI:NY Mid-Season Bash hosted by Steppenwolf co-founder Gary Sinise. Includes a private, pre-concert tour of the set of CBS's hit TV series CSI:NY, hotel stay and round-trip airfare.
VIP tickets for four to the Broadway premiere of Of Mice and Men directed by Tony Award-winning ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro. Includes exclusive party with Anna D. Shapiro and the cast, hotel and round-trip airfare.

The GALA 2010 Co-Chairs are: Sarah Beardsley, Charles H. James III, David S. Kalt and Janet Melk.

Steppenwolf ensemble members expected to attend include: Alana Arenas, Kate Arrington, Ian Barford, Robert Breuler, Gary Cole, K. Todd Freeman, Frank Galati, Francis Guinan, Jon Michael Hill, Ora Jones, Terry Kinney, Tina Landau, Martha Lavey, James Vincent Meredith, Amy Morton, Sally Murphy, Jeff Perry, William Petersen, Yasen Peyankov, Martha Plimpton, Anna D. Shapiro, Eric Simonson, Gary Sinise, Lois Smith and Jim True-Frost. Other notable guests expected to attend include: Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Steppenwolf Board Chair Nora Daley Conroy.

Event: GALA 2010: Choose to Believe
Performance: A short selection from Samuel Beckett's Endgame
Details: Featuring a cocktail reception, dinner, live auction, dancing and a performance by Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band.
Date: Saturday, May 8, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.
Location: Steppenwolf Theatre Company, 1650 N. Halsted St.
Structured Development's TruServe Building, 1460 N. Halsted St.
Tickets: To purchase tickets, contact Steppenwolf's Special Events Department at (312) 654-5632 or specialevents@steppenwolf.org.

Reverb Capital is the Gala 2010 Co-Sponsor; Harris Bank is the Performance Sponsor; Structured Development is the Event Venue Sponsor; Liz and Eric Lefkofsky are the Live Auction Sponsors; Ogilvy is the Marketing Partner; United Airlines is the Official Airline Partner.

Committed to the principle of ensemble performance through the collaboration of a company of actors, directors and playwrights, Steppenwolf Theatre Company's mission is to advance the vitality and diversity of American theater by nurturing artists, encouraging repeatable creative relationships and contributing new works to the national canon. The company, formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, is dedicated to perpetuating an ethic of mutual respect and the development of artists through on-going group work. Steppenwolf has grown into an internationally renowned company of 42 artists whose talents include acting, directing, playwriting and textual adaptation. For additional information, visit www.steppenwolf.org, www.facebook.com/SteppenwolfTheatre
and www.twitter.com/SteppenwolfThtr.