Monday, April 19, 2010
Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
120 E. Delaware Place
Chicago, IL
The 22nd Annual Awards for Excellence in the Arts will take place on Monday, April 19, 2010 at the Four Seasons Hotel, Chicago, We hope that you will join us for an exceptional evening in the celebration of visionaries that have proven their dedication, talents, and leadership in supporting the arts. All proceeds will be placed in The Theatre School Scholarship Fund, directly benefiting the young artists who train at The Theatre School at DePaul University. Information about the 2010 Honorees, Host, and program will be announced shortly.
The ticket price for the benefit is $500 per person, with tables for 10 starting at $5000. For tickets or more information, call Tessa Craib-Cox, Director of Development, at (773) 325-7929.
The Honorees for the 2009 Awards for Excellence in the Arts included:
2009 CORPORATE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS:
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
2009 LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS:
Bill Kurtis and Donna La Pietra
Kurtis Productions, Ltd.
2009 ALUMNI AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS:
Dennis Dugan
Alumnus & Director/Actor I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Big Daddy
2009 AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS:
Angela Bassett
Actress Notorious, What's Love Got To Do With It, ER
2009 AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE ARTS:
Michael Shannon
Actor Revolutionary Road, Bug
Host: P.J. Byrne
Theatre School Alumnus & Actor (Be Kind Rewind, Charlie Wilson’s War)
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2006 honoree and Theatre School alum Judy Greer receives her long awaited DePaul diploma exclaiming, “My mom is going to be so excited! Because I have this red thing, but it’s been empty since 1997.” |
About the Awards
Each year this event recognizes distinguished artists who have made significant contributions to the arts and celebrates exceptional professional accomplishments. The Annual Awards for Excellence in the Arts benefits The Theatre School’s Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance to students from all over the world who come to train at the school, one of the leading conservatories in the nation.
All proceeds from the event are placed in The Theatre School Scholarship Fund, which provides assistance to our diverse body of students as they pursue their training. The Theatre School relies on donors to provide 40% of the nearly 1.3 million dispensed through scholarships each year.
In addition to the Awards for Excellence in the Arts presented to a select few inspiring artists, a Corporate Award was established in 1998 to honor exemplary corporate philanthropy to the arts. Also, in 2007, a Leadership Award was established to honor the vision of extraordinary individuals, and their support of the Arts. The first Leadership Award was given to Shirely Madigan, Chair of the Illinois Arts Council. Last year, Bill Kurtis and Donna La Pietra, Kurtis Productions, were recognized for their un-wavering dedication and long-time support of the arts in Chicago.
The award itself is a beautiful Wedgwood bowl, a gift to The Theatre School for this purpose from Lord Piers Wedgwood of the legendary Wedgwood firm. Lord and Lady Wedgwood have served as honorary chairpersons and often attend the event.
Past Recipients
Each year this event recognizes distinguished artists who have made significant contributions to the arts and celebrates exceptional professional accomplishments. The Annual Awards for Excellence in the Arts benefits The Theatre School’s Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance to students from all over the world who come to train at the school, one of the leading conservatories in the nation.
| Past Awards for Excellence in the Arts recipients include: |
| F. Murray Abraham |
Patti LuPone |
| Joan Allen |
John Mahoney |
| Gillian Anderson* |
Michael Maggio |
| Ed Asner |
Karl Malden* |
| Blythe Danner |
Joe Mantegna* |
| Brian Dennehy |
Marlee Matlin |
| Melinda Dillon* |
Rita Moreno |
| Scott Ellis* |
Lois Nettleton |
| Laurence Fishburne |
Edward James Olmos |
| Dennis Franz |
Estelle Parsons |
| Sharon Gless |
Maria Tallchief Paschen |
| Judy Greer* |
Elizabeth Perkins* |
| John Guare |
David Hyde Pierce |
| Julie Harris |
Aidan Quinn |
| Zalch Helm |
Phylicia Rashad |
| Gregory Hines |
John C. Reilly* |
| Celeste Holms |
Emma Thompson |
| Bonnie Hunt |
Vince Vaughn |
| James Earl Jones |
William Warfield |
| Martin Landau |
Wendy Wasserstein |
| Sherry Lansing |
George Wendt |
| Tracy Letts |
Charlayne Woodard* |
| Ray Liota |
Jane Wyman |
| Michael Shannon |
Angela Bassett |
| Dennis Dugan* |
Alec Baldwin |
| Pam Grier |
|
| * Indicates Alumni of the Goodman School of Drama or The Theatre School |
| Past Corporate Award recipients include: |
| American Airlines |
McDonald’s Corporation |
| Bank of America |
Sara Lee Corporation |
| BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois |
SBC Communications Inc. |
| Richard H. Driehaus |
Exelon Corporation |
| Kraft Foods North America |
Northern Trust |
| Illinois Tool Works Inc. |
|
| Past Leadership Award Recipients Include: |
| Shirley Madigan |
|
| Lois Weisberg |
|
| Bill Kurtis & Donna La Pietra |
|
For a full listing of recipients please contact us.
Contacts
More information, photos, bios, interviews, and other media opportunities are available. Please contact our staff for details.
