2013/2014 annual report - american blues...

2013/2014 ANNUAL REPORT AMERICAN BLUES THEATER

2013/2014 ANNUAL REPORT

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Season 28 was an exceptional year of artistic growth while strengthening our company’s fiscal foundation.

Thank you for your interest and support of American Blues Theater. In 2013/2014, we expanded our mainstage season to four (4) productions and added numerous artistic programming initiatives.

Our incredible Season 28 began at a new venue, Greenhouse Theater Center, with the Chicago professional premiere of Hank Williams: Lost Highway starring Ensemble member Matthew Brumlow as “Hank Williams”. It became our best-selling non-holiday production in Blues’ history. Demand was so high, we extended the production run and announced a remount for the following season. The show received unanimous praise from critics and earned four (4) Joseph Jefferson Awards and nominations.

Next, we broke box-office records again with It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!. Ensemble member and Director Marty Higginbotham and Artistic Affiliate Grant Sabin transformed the theater into a radio studio, complete with a picture window overlooking Lincoln Ave (circa 1944) and soft, magical snowfall during the performance.

We proudly produced the world-premiere of American Myth written by Artistic Affiliate Christina Gorman. This script won our 2012 Blue Ink Playwriting Award, the 2013 Edgerton Foundation New Play Award, and was nominated for a 2014 Pulitzer Prize.

We closed the mainstage season with the explosive Chicago premiere of George Brant’s award-winning script Grounded. This solo show was one of the most highly reviewed shows of the season and received three (3) Joseph Jefferson Awards and nominations.

Our artistic programming beyond the mainstage productions thrived. We launched our free arts education program, The Lincoln Project, with overwhelming success. Nearly 500 Chicago Public School students were served by the program. We also produced 12 world-premiere 10-minute plays in our annual Ripped: the Living Newspaper Festival; developed Ensemble member Nambi E. Kelley’s adaptation of Native Son and commissioned Ensemble member Michael Mahler’s new musical through our Blueprint Development; and named Comden Mall Community Activists as the winner of the 2014 Blue Ink Playwriting Award.

Matching the expanse of our art, our earned and contributed revenue surged! Annual ticket sales nearly doubled and our FlexPass subscribers increased by 445%. New foundations joined our existing Blues contributors—The Chicago Community Trust, Arts Work Fund, Illinois Arts Council Agency, and The Shubert Foundation. In a generous act, Board member Chip Pringle created an endowment fund before his passing from an aggressive cancer. While he is gone, his legacy will not be forgotten.

Chip repeatedly told American Blues to swing the bat hard: homerun or strike out, go big! We’re sure he’s smiling as Season 28 was ENORMOUS.

—Gwendolyn (Wendy) Whiteside

Photo credits by Johnny Knight. On the cover (clockwise): Matthew Brumlow in Hank Williams: Lost Highway; John Mohrlein James Joseph,

Shawn J. Goudie, Michael Mahler, & Ian Paul Custer in It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!; Gwendolyn Whiteside in Grounded; Cheryl Graeff,

Mick Weber, & Terry Hamilton in American Myth.

PRODUCING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR LETTER

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CONTENTS

2013/2014 ANNUAL REPORT

Contents

Our Family 4

About American Blues Theater 6

Significant Achievements & Honors 7

Season 28 Productions 8

Arts Education 13

New Work Development 14

Blue Ink Playwriting Award 15

Financial Balance Sheet 16

Financial Snapshot 17

Corporate & Foundation Sponsors 18

Donors 19

Suzanne Petri and Matthew Brumlow in Hank Williams: Lost Highway.

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Our multi-generational and interdisciplined artists are the second-oldest professional Equity Ensemble theater in Chicago. Our 39-member Ensemble has 539 combined years of collaboration on stage. As of 2014, we’ve individually received nearly 150 Joseph Jefferson Awards and nominations that celebrate excellence in Chicago theater and over 22 Black Theatre Alliance Awards. Our artists are honored with Pulitzer Prizes, Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards, and numerous other accolades.

OUR FAMILY

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS (2013/2014 term, as of June 30, 2014)

Lawrence Schulman, President

Burton X. Rosenberg, Vice-President

Shelly Reitman, Treasurer

Joan Esposito, Secretary

Manny Buckley

Phil Calian

Jill DeVaney

Douglas Gourley

Matt Hafter

Ross C. Hemphill

Keith A. Karlson

Gwendolyn Whiteside, ex-officio

Chip Pringle, in memoriam

ARTISTIC AFFILIATES Ian Paul Custer Joe Dempsey Olympia Dukakis Andrea J. Dymond Christina Gorman Sarah Hughey James Joseph Zachary Kenney Eric Lynch Keith Pitts Richard Shavzin Sandy Shinner Arianna Soloway John Sterchi James Still Kaelan Strouse Wandachristine Dennis Zacek

OUR FAMILY

“Strikingly honest, powerfully acted, deep-emotional souls.”

--Chris Jones Chicago Tribune

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VISION American Blues Theater is the premier American theater producing visceral theatrical works while engaging its audience in worthwhile missions of local service agencies.

MISSION American Blues Theater illuminates the American ideas of freedom, equality, and opportunity in the plays we produce and communities we serve.

COMMUNITY SERVICES We think it is an honor and duty to serve our community. We raise awareness and offer services to other non-profit organizations’ great causes. Using the themes of each manuscript, we choose community collaborators for every production.

This season we held a household supplies drive (Anixter Center), distributed promotional materials (Old Town School of Folk Music, National Veteran Art Museum), and provided complimentary tickets (USO, Medill School of Journalism, Misericordia).

We donated proceeds from our “Pink Previews” to The Lynn Sage Foundation for breast cancer research. In addition, we donated proceeds from a performance of Grounded to sponsor a child’s surgery through Children of War Foundation.

ABOUT AMERICAN BLUES THEATER

“One of our favorites in Chicago!”

-Dean Richards WGN

“A standing ovation to American Blues for your outstanding vision. Our clients with disabilities performed on a professional stage. It was a night to always remember”

-Rosie Burke Vice-President of External Relations, Anixter Center

Anixter Center clients perform in a one-night event similar to RIPPED: the Living Newspaper, co-produced by American Blues.

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SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS & HONORS OF 2013/2014

We added performances to accommodate audience demand for Hank Williams: Lost Highway and It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! All four (4) Season 28 mainstage productions had numerous sold-old performances. Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside won The Broadway World-Chicago Award for Best Lead Actress for her work in Collected Stories. Ensemble member Manny Buckley was nominated for a Black Theatre Alliance Award for Leading Actor in a Play. Artistic Affiliate Eric Lynch was nominated for two (2) Black Theatre Alliance Awards—Leading Actor (drama) and Most Promising Actor.

As its basis, our inaugural arts education program, The Lincoln Project, uses the Pulitzer Prize nominated script The Heavens Are Hung in Black, written by Artistic Affiliate James Still. American Myth, written by Artistic Affiliate Christina Gorman, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Hank Williams: Lost Highway received four (4) Jeff Award nominations: Musical—midsize* Direction (Damon Kiely) Music Direction (Malcolm Ruhl)* Leading Actor in a Musical (Matthew Brumlow)*. Grounded received three (3) Jeff Award nominations: Solo Performance (Gwendolyn Whiteside)* Sound Design—midsize (Lindsay Jones)* Projections Design (Mike Tutaj). * Recipient of Jeff Award

Actor/music director Austin Cook (pictured at left) joined our Ensemble.

Co-founding Ensemble member Rick Cleveland (pictured at left) earned an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Drama for his television series “House of Cards” on Netflix.

Actor Joe Dempsey, designer Sarah Hughey, and actor Eric Lynch joined our Blues family as Artistic Affiliates.

Additional Ensemble and Artistic Affiliates who received Jeff Award nominations: Austin Cook (Artistic specialization—piano/conductor)* Joe Dempsey (Actor in Supporting Role in Musical) Lindsay Jones (Sound Design—large) Michael Mahler (Music Direction).

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS & HONORS

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Chicago Professional Premiere HANK WILLIAMS: LOST HIGHWAY August 30 — October 6, 2013 by Randal Myler & Mark Harelik Directed by Damon Kiely; Music direction by Malcolm Ruhl Following Hank Williams’ rise from his humble beginnings to his triumphs on the Grand Ole Opry to his self-destruction at twenty-nine, audiences were treated to an unforgettable tribute of more than 20 hits, including “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”, “Move It on Over”, “Hey, Good Lookin’”, and “Jambalaya”.

SEASON 28 PRODUCTIONS

“A bona-fide tribute concert!”

-Zach Freeman NewCity

“A big, fat hit!”

-Chris Jones Chicago Tribune

Photo by Johnny Knight. (l to r): Greg Hirte, Austin Cook, Matthew Brumlow, & Michael Mahler.

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Chicago’s Annual Tradition for 12 years! IT’S A WONDERFUL: LIVE IN CHICAGO! November 22 — December 29, 2013 From Frank Capra’s film Directed by Ensemble member Marty Higginbotham From the moment you walked through the doors, you were transported back to the Golden Age of Radio and experienced the Frank Capra holiday classic as a 1940s radio broadcast with live Foley sound effects, an original score, and a stellar cast of eight that brought the entire town of Bedford Falls to life.

Dean Richards’ list! Also recommended by WGN, CBS Chicago, NBC, ABC, WXRT, WBEZ, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Magazine, Newcity’s “Best of Chicago”, and Chicago Reader.

Entertained

30,000 patrons

since 2002!

Photo by Johnny Knight. (l to r): Ian Paul Custer, Denice Mahler, Gwendolyn Whiteside, Kevin R. Kelly, James Joseph, & John Mohrlein.

NEW

venue!

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World Premiere AMERICAN MYTH March 7 — April 6, 2014 by Artistic Affiliate Christina Gorman Directed by Steve Scott Dr. Douglas Graham, best-selling author, beloved professor, and American history scholar, was accused by a former student of lying in the classroom about his participation in and around the Vietnam War. Winner of an Edgerton Foundation New Play Award; Winner of the 2013 Blue Ink Playwriting Award.

“Riveting! The life comparisons between [Doug] Graham and [John] Adams are profound.”

-Katy Walsh Chicago Now

“Highly recommended!”

-Al Bresloff Around the Town Chicago

Photo by Johnny Knight. (l to r): Mick Weber & Jordan Brodess.

Nominated for Pulitzer Prize!

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Chicago Premiere GROUNDED June 6 — July 13, 2014 by George Brant Directed by Lisa Portes A hot-rod F16 fighter pilot’s unexpected pregnancy ends her career in the sky. Repurposed to flying remote-controlled drones in Afghanistan from an air-conditioned trailer near Las Vegas, the pilot struggles through surreal twelve-hour shifts far from the battlefield, hunting terrorists by day, and being a wife and mother by night.

“Scintillating! Incendiary leave-it-all- on-the-table performance.”

-Kerry Reid Chicago Tribune

“I can’t think of a single American who shouldn’t see this play!”

-Angela Allyn Chicago Stage Standard

Photo by Johnny Knight. Gwendolyn Whiteside.


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RIPPED: the Living Newspaper Festival May 5, 2014 by Jonathan Baude, Manny Buckley, Darren Canady, Gloria Bond Clunie, Kristoffer Diaz, Brian Hieggelke, James Joseph, Rohina Malik, Brett Neveu, Joshua Rollins, James Sherman, and Susan Soon He Stanton. An annual festival, inspired by the 1930s WPA program,

with 10-minute plays ripped from today’s headlines.

“Outstanding Chicago company! Proud to support a theatre company with heart, guts, and legacy!”

-Mark Hallett McCormick Foundation

“Great music and acting to inform and entertain!”

-Joshua Conner student 12th edition since 2009!

Photo by Johnny Knight. Angelica Roque.

More than

60 artists

participated!

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ARTS EDUCATION

THE LINCOLN PROJECT 2013—2014 Conceived & adapted by Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside from Artistic Affiliate James Still’s play The Heavens Are Hung in Black Our innovative program aligns with Illinois Core Curriculum standards to engage 5th – 10th graders of the circumstances leading to the Emancipation Proclamation. Students watch scenes performed by professional actors, participate in discussions, and most importantly, write their own plays.

Chicago Public School classrooms. (left): students with Manny Buckley & Kaelan Strouse; (above): Kaelan Strouse as Abraham Lincoln.

“A stellar experience which allowed students to express themselves in ways unknown to peers, teachers, and selves!”

-Ashley Mays Chicago Public Schools (CPS) teacher

“I learned it is okay to say your feelings.”

-Student CPS

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NEW WORK DEVELOPMENT

BLUEPRINT DEVELOPMENT

The Blueprint Development program offers workshops, staged-readings, and the

opportunity to develop scripts for fully-staged productions.

Photo by Johnny Knight. Ensemble member Nambi E. Kelley & Seret Scott.

In 2 years, we’ve developed &

produced

worldworld--premiere premiere scripts scripts

for our mainstage season.

FACT

We held 2 workshops

& many staged-readings of

Ensemble member Nambi E.

Kelley’s world-premiere

adaptation of Native Son.

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BLUE INK PLAYWRITING AWARD

Since 2010 we’ve selected

4 winners

7 finalists

& 21 semi-finalists

FACT

Photo by Johnny Knight. Blue Ink coordinator Heather Meyers and Douglas Post.

2014 WINNER COMDEN MALL COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS by Douglas Post The Blue Ink Playwriting Award was created in 2010 to support new work. The winning playwright receives a cash prize ($1,000) and a staged-reading with American Blues Theater artists.

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF ACTIVITY

Total Earned Income $241,183 — $241,183 $123,648

Total Public Support 302,166 100,000 402,166 350,818

Released from Restriction 93,775 (93,775) — —

TOTAL INCOME 637,124 6,225 643,349 474,467

TOTAL EXPENSES 518,620 — 518,620 307,522

CHANGE IN NET ASSETS 118,504 6,225 124,729 166,189

NET ASSETS—BEGINNING OF YEAR 206,685 — 206,685 40,496

NET ASSETS—END OF YEAR 288,464 42,950 331,414 206,685

FINANCIAL BALANCE SHEET

UNRESTRICTED TEMPORARILY 2014 TOTAL 2013 TOTAL RESTRICTED

unaudited Sept. 1, 2014

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FINANCIAL SNAPSHOT

During the 2013/2014 Season, American Blues Theater

had income of $637,124 and expenses of $518,620.

Contributed income from individuals, foundations, corporations, and our annual events (Blue Bash, GutterBall) accounted for 63% of total income. The charts below outline specifics for revenue and expenses with a breakdown of contributed income.

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CORPORATE & FOUNDATION SPONSORS

Actors’ Equity Foundation

Anixter Foundation

Arts Work Fund

Bank One America

Benjamin Rosenthal Foundation

Carlson Law Offices

Cheiron Trading

The Chicago Community Trust

Chicago Network for Justice & Peace

Citi Private Bank

ComEd

The Davee Foundation

Edgerton Foundation

Eurex

Google

Illinois Arts Council Agency

The John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Reimer & Karlson LLC

The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation

The Saints

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Shepard Schwartz & Harris LLP

The Shubert Foundation

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DONORS

$25,000 and above The Davee Foundation John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Barb and Chip Pringle The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Burt and Sheli Rosenberg $10,000 and above Anixter Foundation Arts Work Fund The Chicago Community Trust ComEd Eurex $5,000—$9,999 Phil and Jill Calian Jill DeVaney Edgerton Foundation Doug and Mary Clare Gourley Mike and Trudy Kelly $2,500—$4,999 Emily Emerson Ross and Joyce Hemphill Illinois Arts Council Agency Sheldon and Irene Reitman Libby and David Savner Larry Schulman and Chris Poggianti Ian Van Handel Gwendolyn Whiteside $1,000—$2,499 Richard and Jo Ann Beck Benjamin Rosenthal Foundation Richard Blass Marcy and Greg Carlin Matt and Hillary Ebach Daniel and Virginia Emerson Joan Esposito Joe and Madeleine Glossberg Matt and Beth Hafter Joel Kaplan Keith Karlson

Laura and Leonard Loventhal Charles Mackie Reimer and Karlson LLC Howard Walker $500—$999 Actors’ Equity Foundation Peter Amster Dawn Bach and Rawl Thurman Ed and Laura Blatchford Thomas and Meg Claggett Will and Julie Hobart Mary and David Hood Lorraine and Jay Jaffe Mitch Marinello and Nancy Young Werner Mittermeier Keith and Anne Moffat Ben and Nancy Randall The Saints Carol and David Stone Darrel and Shirley Whiteside $250—$499 Steven Anixter Anonymous Harold Back Keith Carlson Etahn Cohen Mike Colky Lewis and Marge Collens Peter and Patty Fazio Ed and Carol Finnegan J.A. (Judy) Friedman Ray Garza Christopher and M.E. Girgenti Catherine Head Michelle Holland James Joseph Kevin and Cathy Kelly John Knight Bill Kurtis and Donna LaPietra

We are honored to recognize the following contributors who enable American Blues Theater’s artistic programming and community services. This list includes donations from our True Blue Annual Fund,

GutterBall, Blue Bash, production sponsors, and other contributions given July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014.

Highest donation

$25,000

Lowest donation

$5

# of donors

236

Average donation

$309

Highest donation

$25,000

Lowest donation

$30

# of donors

31

Average donation

$1,637

INDIVIDUAL GIVING

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DONORS

$250—$499 cont’d Bart Lazar David Mahler Heather Meyers and Roger Grum Tom Morrisey David and Sonali Omberg Gerald Pauling Leonard X and Arlene Rosenberg Barbara and Randy Thomas $100—$249 Roz Alexander and Sam Grozdin Dana Black Dr. & Mrs. Richard Burnham Sarah Burnham Karen Callaway Casey Campbell Tyson and Sarah Carter Circle of Service Foundation Neil Cohen Jeannette Cole Richard Coover Terri April Dillion Maria and Rich Dimond Susan and John Downey Deanna Dunagan Kelly Friend Christina Gorman Jaclyn and Shawn Goudie Larry Grimm Ellen and Ed Gualtierri Jay and Judy Heyman Douglas Hoekstra James Juliano Steve Key Patrick and Barbara Lamb Greg Mack Michael Mahler and Dara Cameron Jerome Marconi April Meyers Nathan Mirocha John and Jackie Mohrlein Donna Morgan William and Rachel Payne Neala Peake Robert Petrillo Marge Punter Arvid Rocans

$100—$249 cont’d Sarah E. Ross Laura Sage Arianna Soloway Kelly and Deborah Stonebraker Nancy and Barney Straus Nancy Timmers Virginia Wiles William Harris Investors

Photo by Johnny Knight. Sheli Rosenberg led the Pledge Drive.

American Blues is grateful for every contribution.

We regret that due to space limitations

we’re unable to list donations under $99.

Please accept our deepest appreciation

as your donation makes a difference!

61% of

BLUE BASH

(annual event)

attendees

gave add’l

donations

at the event!

Photos by Johnny Knight. Top down: Emcees Dina Bair & Steve Sanders; Matt & Hillary Ebach; Artistic Affiliate Dana Black.

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DONORS

The Anixter family Arro Corporation Robert Atkinson Adolph and Nancy Battista Sharon and Irwin Berg Cookie and Bill Boring Bill and Mary Jo Burfeind Phil and Jill Calian Tyson and Sarah Carter Chris Cicala Ted Cornell B. Ann Coziahr Laura Dahl Sharon and Walt DeBolt Megan Dellorfano Ralph and Nancy Dellorfano Jill DeVaney Richard Duewel Joan Esposito Gary and Cyndy Faust William and Susan Fritzler Cary Goldberg and Lisa Grant

Jaclyn and Shawn Goudie Doug and Mary Clare Gourley Craig and Linda Grannon Greek Islands Restaurant Susan and Harlan Haimes Mark and Laurie Hajduch Michael Hillgamyer Fred Houdek David and Eileen Hovey Joel Kaplan Holly Keating Leigh Kennedy Roger and Nancy Kennedy Susan Kennedy Steve Key Nancy Ludwig Florence Marzano James McGuffey Heather Meyers and Roger Grum Colleen and Dave Muno Janet Paulson Richard Pein and Dianna Schneider

Suzanne Petri Arthur Pringle Cathy Pringle Shelly and Irene Reitman Paul and Carol Richards Burt and Sheli Rosenberg Leonard X and Arlene Rosenberg David and Libby Savner Jayne Schirmacher Larry Schulman and Chris Poggianti Cheryl and Thomas Starrett David and Carol Stone Sun Capital Partners JoAn Swartz Ian Van Handel Timothy and Roxanne Vendegna Richard Vitale Nike Whitcomb Darrel and Shirley Whiteside Gwendolyn Whiteside Bill and Mary Jo Zaeske

The Chip Pringle Fund

(contributions made as of June 30, 2014)

Aquitaine Restaurant Dawn Bach Dina Bair bellyQ Bistro Zinc Natalie Bontumasi Bunches (a flower shop) Butler House Dara Cameron Greg Carlin Chicago Bulls Chicago Cubs Chicago Shakespeare Theater Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chicago White Sox Citi Private Bank Rick Cleveland Dennis Cockrum Court Theatre Jill DeVaney Daniel and Ginny Emerson Emily Emerson Joan Esposito Eurest Eye to Eye Interiors Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Tom Geraty Goodman Theater

Doug and Mary Clare Gourley Cheryl Graeff Matt and Beth Hafter Marty and Ashley Higginbotham Jim Hoey Jaclyn Holsey Indianapolis Colts Lindsay Jones Lindsay Jordan Joel Kaplan Johnny Knight Photography Nambi E. Kelley Kevin R. Kelly Steve Key Jim Leaming and Carmen Roman lillieAnn’s Lookingglass Theatre Michael Mahler John Mohrlein Museum of Contemporary Art Northlight Theatre Old Jews Telling Jokes Jim Ortlieb Paramount Theater Suzanne Petri Petterino’s Porchlight Music Theater Prairie Grass Restaurant

Barb Pringle Zack Pringle Ray’s Bucktown B&B A Red Orchid Theater Shelly and Irene Reitman Revolution Brewery Rivers Casino Burt and Sheli Rosenberg Sarah E. Ross Steve Sanders Larry Schulman and Chris Poggianti Second City Seyfarth Shaw Shepard, Schwartz, & Harris Amy Slyfield The Stage Channel The Stained Glass Steppenwolf Theater Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. Joe Streeto Nia Tavoularis TimeLine Theatre Ian Van Handel WBEZ WGN News Darrel and Shirley Whiteside Gwendolyn Whiteside

In-Kind Contributions

Photos by Johnny Knight. Barb & Zack Pringle accepting the Focus Award presented posthumously to Chip Pringle at the 2014 Blue Bash.

Photos by Johnny Knight. Top down: Joan Esposito & Joel Kaplan;

Dana Black, Molly Glynn, Suzy Petri, Carmen Roman, & Joe Foust.

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Administrative office 1016 N. Dearborn St

Chicago, IL 60610

AmericanBluesTheater.com (312) 725-4228 voicemail (773) 404-7336 box office

Performance venue 2257 N. Lincoln Ave

Chicago, IL 60614

Gwendolyn Whiteside, Producing Artistic Director

American Blues Theater is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent of the law.

2013/2014 annual report - american blues...

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