Goodman Theatre

For Immediate Release

(June 9, 2008 - Chicago, IL) Goodman Theatre smashed sales records with its May 17 black tie "String of Pearls" Gala-a dazzling affair led by Gala Chair Joan Clifford and starring featured entertainer Bebe Neuwirth and pianist Scott Cady-with 700 guests raising $1 million for Goodman Theatre's education and outreach programs. Stage and screen star Neuwirth brought the crowd to its feet with her repertoire of show tunes at The Fairmont Chicago, followed by dinner and dancing to the Gentlemen of Leisure. The theme "String of Pearls" was selected to honor the 30th anniversary (commonly known as the "pearl anniversary") of Goodman Theatre's Women's Board, under President Alice Young Sabl.

The evening began at 6:30pm with a cocktail reception in the hotel's festive Moulin Rouge room, followed by Neuwirth's 7:30pm performance in the Imperial Ballroom, awash in black, white and silver décor by Kehoe Designs. Stunning quilted silver jewelry boxes filled with cascades of faux pearls, white hydrangea, roses and touches of white gardenias, along with crystal-cut votive accents, defined each table; a long strand of faux pearls accented each silver chair. A collection of gorgeous crystal chandeliers were suspended over the tables to add further impact to the room. The grand entrance to the ballroom was adorned in shimmering silver curtains, with scripted pearl quotations from Coco Chanel, drawing attention to the entrance floor: "My reason for choosing pearls is that, dense as they are, they represent the greatest worth in the smallest volume" and "Why is it that men can be men and women must wear pearls and smile?" and "In order to be irreplaceable one must always wear pearls."

Guests were treated to an elegant three-course dinner beginning with chicken pate on crostini, salami garnished with cornishon, pickled shrimp and vichyssoise. The Plat Principaux featured a filet of beef and halibut on a bed of bleu cheese rice, spring asparagus and red wine demi. Completing the meal was dessert of lemon tart with chocolate, whipped cream topped with chocolate cigar, fresh strawberries and raspberries and raspberry coulis.

Goodman Women's Board member Joan Clifford (Gold Coast) was the Gala Chair and Keith Green (Near North) was the Corporate Chair. Gala Sponsor Partners include Allstate; AON Re Global/Cooney & Conway; Sharon and Charles Angell (Glenview), Clifford Law Offices, Shawn M. Donnelley (Gold Coast) and Alice and John J. Sabl (Gold Coast); Clifford Law Offices; McDonald's; Tiffany & Co.; Turtle Wax; and American Airlines, the Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre. Gala Benefactors included AON, Bulley & Andrews LLC; Kralovec, Jambois & Schwartz Attorneys at Law; KPMG; Shefsky & Froelich; Christine and Paul Branstad; The Edith-Marie Appleton Foundation/Albert and Maria Goodman; Ellen and Paul Gignilliat (Near North); Carol Prins and John H. Hart (Gold Coast).

A versatile performer on stage, film and television, Bebe Neuwirth starred as Velma Kelly in the Broadway production of Chicago for which she won a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and Astaire Award. She also received a Tony Award for her role as Nickie in Sweet Charity. Her other Broadway credits include Fosse, Damn Yankees, Dancin, Little Me, and A Chorus Line. On television she is well known for her role of Lilith Sternin on Cheers, for which she won two Emmy Awards. Other television appearances include the NBC series Law and Order - Trial by Jury, her Emmy nominated portrayal of Dorothy Parker in Dash and Lily and guest work on Star Trek, the Next Generation, and Hack. Scott Cady has been Neuwirth's pianist for symphonic concerts across the United States. He works extensively as a pianist, arranger and musical director within the theatrical and popular music genres. He currently serves as the associate conductor and pianist for the Broadway revival of Chicago.

About Goodman Theatre

Named the country's Best Regional Theatre by Time magazine (2003), Goodman Theatre is a leader in the American theater, internationally recognized for its artists, productions and educational programs since its founding in 1925. Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer's forward-thinking leadership has earned the Goodman unparalleled artistic distinction, garnered hundreds of awards-including the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre (1992)-and moved dozens of plays from Chicago to stages in New York and abroad. Central to its commitment to the reinvestigation of classics and development of new plays and artists is the Goodman's Artistic Collective, including Frank Galati, Henry Godinez, Chuck Smith, Regina Taylor and Mary Zimmerman. The largest not-for-profit theater in Chicago, the Goodman moved in 2000 into a brand new state-of-the-art complex which houses two principal theaters: the 856-seat Albert Ivar Goodman Theatre and the 400-seat flexible Owen Bruner Goodman Theatre. Board Chairman is Shawn M. Donnelley and Alice Young Sabl is President of the Women's Board. American Airlines is the Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre. Kraft Foods is the Principal Sponsor of the Goodman's free Student Subscription Series.

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