Center for Performing Arts toasts its past, future with gala
More than 25 years of providing entertainment and educational enlightenment will be celebrated at Governors State University’s Center for Performing Arts in University Park.
The 25 & Beyond Gala Celebration on June 4 includes a cocktail hour, a meal served to guests seated on the Center for Performing Arts’ stage, a reflection on performances presented since the venue opened in December 1995 and a preview of what is booked for the 2022-23 season.
“We had a 25th anniversary campaign to raise money in support of the Center. That 18-month campaign concluded in December,” said Lana Rogachevskaya, executive director of the Center for Performing Arts.
“We raised $150,000, which was a significant amount for us to help us sustain a lot of programming.
“Now we’re concluding the 25th anniversary celebration with reflecting on the past and looking forward to the future.”
The cocktail hour features music by Chicago Jazz Philharmonic Academy Youth Ensemble members.
Presentations include artists from Ma’at Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theatre, which is more commonly known as MPAACT, previewing a show coming to the Center for Performing Arts.
“We have been partnering with them for over 12 years. They’re a Chicago-based theater that creates incredible, real and raw stories. We’re fortunate actually to be working with them very closely to do one of our most ambitious projects,” said Rogachevskaya of Homewood.
“We will be producing and supporting a world premiere of a large-scale musical, ‘Red Summer.’ It’s
been in production for over a year. It’s going to be in residence here for six performances in September. Our guests for the gala will be among the first people to see the work in progress so it’s very exciting.”
The 25 Years & Beyond Gala Celebration also include students from Governors State University’s Theatre and Performance Studies performing a student-choreographed number from GSU Dance Company’s “25 Years of Broadway and Beyond,” which took place in February.
“We’re fortunate to have several Theatre and Performance Studies theater majors and dance minors.
It’s great to see when artists of different skills and backgrounds share the stage,” said Rogachevskaya, who is completing her 10th season of working with the Center for Performing Arts.
“We try during our special events not only to give people a taste of what’s to come but also to bring some of our old friends to the party.”
The celebration includes First Midwest Bank receiving a Community Impact Award and John Concepcion, co-chair of the Center for Performing Arts’ advisory board, receiving a Cultural Ambassador award.
“We’re honoring two great partners. John is not only a Lyric Opera singer but he is also curator and producer of the Opera Up Close series at the Center for Performing Arts that has been living here in residence for the past 10-plus years,” Rogachevskaya said.
“Lyric Opera musicians will be part of the tribute to John. Many of them have been on our stage numerous times.”
The presentation featuring Lyric Opera of Chicago musicians previews selections for the next season of Opera Up Close.
Gala attendees will be among the first people to see what is in store for the Center for Performing Arts’ entire upcoming season.
“This is the time when we will be introducing people to the 2022-23 season. We will be sharing a video of the season preview,” Rogachevskaya said.
“We have been giving more attention and care to some of our signature programs. We’ve created the Creating and Cultivating Compassionate Communities initiative. As part of this work we bring not just entertainment artists but we bring artists that make our community more compassionate.
“It’s part of the university’s mission and it’s part of our mission to connect artists and audiences, to activate compassion and to make this world here a better place.”
Tickets for the 25 & Beyond Gala Celebration include a tax-deductible donation.
“The proceeds go directly to our general operating fund that will support making sure that music, theater and dance are accessible,” Rogachevskaya said.
“We have several funds. One provides free tickets to students from a variety of neighborhoods. In a good, non-COVID year we’re able to bring 2,000 schoolchildren to our theater.
“We have a fund that supports artists’ fees. We have funds that make sure that our ticket prices continue to be accessible for people who live in the neighborhood.”
25 & Beyond Gala Celebration When: 6-9:30 p.m. June 4 Where: Governors State University’s Center for Performing Arts, 1 University Parkway, University Park Tickets: $175 ($85 taxdeductible gift included) Information: 708-2352222; govst.edu/25gala