Contact: Cathy Taylor
Cathy Taylor Public Relations, Inc.
773-564-9564 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
cathy@cathytaylorpr.com April 21, 2017
Black Ensemble Theater Announces the Fourth Annual
Jackie Taylor’s The Soul of a Powerful Woman,
A One-Night-Only Benefit Event
Starring
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Activist Hedy Ratner, State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle,
and many more!
Sunday, May 21, 2017 at 5:30pm
Chicago, IL—Black Ensemble Theater Founder and Executive Director Jackie Taylor announces a special benefit event featuring a one night-only performance of The Soul of a Powerful Woman, produced and directed by Jackie Taylor. This special performance is a part of Black Ensemble Theater’s Powerful Woman Campaign and features some of Chicago’s most outstanding powerful women. The evening will begin with a pre-show reception at 5:30pm followed by the 6:30pm performance at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street.
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky will lead a dynamic cast featuring some of Chicago’s most outstanding powerful women including Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, and Activist Hedy Ratner (Women’s Business Development Center). The cast also includes Senator Mattie Hunter, Congresswoman Robin Kelly, Kimberly McCullough-Starks, Suzet McKinney (Illinois Medical District Commission), Jerry Newton (Law Offices of Grace Allen Newton), and Natalie Spears (Dentons).
Donors who make a gift of $250 to the Powerful Woman campaign will receive a complimentary ticket to this exclusive event, which includes a pre-show reception with the cast of The Soul of a Powerful Woman. Proceeds from the evening will help to support Black Ensemble Theater’s mission through educational outreach programs, productions and much more. Contact Shaina Farwell, sfarwell@blackensemble.org, for more information and tickets.
Members of the Host Committee confirmed to date are: Jeannie L. Adams, Cynthia Barginere (Rush University Medical Center), Gloria Castillo, Rona Fourte (Walgreens), Darrel Hackett (BMO Harris Bank), Sonya Malunda Lampley, Senator Bill Marovitz, Thomas McElroy (Level-(1) Global Solutions, LLC), Mary Mitchell (Chicago Sun-Times), Loretta Rosenmayer (INTREN), Toni S. Smith, and Deputy Mayor Andrea Zopp.
The Black Ensemble Theater
Founded in 1976, by the phenomenal producer, playwright and actress Jackie Taylor, Black Ensemble Theater is the only African American theater located in the culturally, racially and ethnically diverse north side Uptown community. Through its Five Play Season of Excellence, The Black Ensemble Theater dazzles audiences locally, nationally and internationally with outstanding original musicals that are entertaining, educational and uplifting. The Black Ensemble Theater has produced more than 100 productions and employed over 5,000 artists.
On November 18, 2011, The Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center opened and is able to accommodate larger-scale productions, bigger audiences and a wider range of educational programming. The new facility includes amenities such as a 299-seat main stage theater (double the capacity of the original venue); 14 offices, classroom space, rehearsal hall, dance studio, scene shop, costume shop, and wardrobe rooms; seven dressing rooms; rehearsal room for musicians; front lobby space with concession areas; and an indoor parking garage. The completion of a 150-seat theater, which will serve as an experimental stage for the work of the Black Playwright Initiative (BPI), with construction by General Contractor Norcon Inc., is expected in 2017.
The mission of the Black Ensemble Theater Company is to eradicate racism and its devastating effects upon society through the theater arts. For more information on the Black Ensemble Theater Company, please visit www.BlackEnsembleTheater.org or call 773-769-4451.
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