Wednesday, August 31, 2011

My Path to the Auditorium Theatre [Joelle Intro]

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By Joelle Weber


Somehow, I always knew that I wanted my career path to lead back to my roots, and my roots are definitely seeped in the performing arts. My mother started me in ballet classes at the age of three—little did she know how much that one decision would impact the rest of my life. Not only did I remain in ballet from age three through high school and into college, I tried out other forms of dance, took ten years of piano lessons, played the French horn for a while in middle school, and eventually found my way around to choir and acting in high school and throughout college. It should not have come as a surprise then to any of my friends or family members when I decided to pursue a career in Arts Administration upon graduation from college.

Originally, I hail from sunny Centennial, Colorado, and while I miss the mountains dearly, I would say the trade-off for Lake Michigan almost seems fair. Part of the reason I picked Chicago was for the lake. I knew I wanted to live in a city close to the water, and as half of my family is originally from the Midwest, water must be in my blood. So, after I graduated from the University of Wyoming in Laramie with both a B.A. in Communication and in Theatre Performance, I moved to Chicago. I fell in love with this city, from its amazing architecture to the vast community of arts and cultural organizations here. Plus, I figured it was a great place to start a career in Arts Administration, particularly in Marketing. Fun fact: While I was repeatedly warned about the terrible Chicago winters, they are NOT worse than Laramie winters. So, I’m happy.

I started with Victory Gardens Theater in August 2009 as their Marketing intern. After a month, I was bumped up to one of two full-time Kemper Arts Administration Fellowship positions, rotating between Marketing, Development, Business/Finance and Box Office duties. It was a fantastic way to get my feet wet in the industry and to figure out where I fit best. I also started working Front of House for Victory Gardens in October 2009, primarily as a house manager, and I have been in this position ever since! After my Kemper Fellowship, I transitioned into a role with VG’s Development department as the Campaign for Growth Assistant through August 2010. From there I went on to do the nine-month Apprenticeship Program with Steppenwolf Theatre Company as the Publicity Apprentice where I met a lot of great friends and worked under a fantastic mentor. Finally, this summer I worked part-time with Emerald City Theatre as the Marketing Coordinator, serving as their in-house graphic designer and helping plan the Pink Carpet Gala event for their show Pinkalicious: The Musical. On top of all this, I am an acting ensemble member and the Director of Marketing for The Island Theatre Company, a new storefront company. Needless to say, I have been really busy!

Now, I am glad to say, I have finally landed here at the Auditorium Theatre as the new Marketing Associate. I was attracted to this position because of the wonderful variety of work presented on the Auditorium stage. In particular, I am very excited about the many unique dance groups I will get to work with this year like Rasta Thomas’ BAD BOYS OF DANCE, the AXIS Dance Company, Batsheva Dance Company, American Ballet Theatre, and of course Chicago’s very own, Joffrey Ballet. My job responsibilities will range from working on show specific e-blasts, helping with our Social Media Campaigns, website upkeep, designing and programing the marquee for each performance, and hopefully much more! I am so thrilled to be on board and cannot wait to see where the season takes us.

It has been quite the path to the Auditorium, but in the long run, every step has held purpose and shaped me into the Chicagoan I am today. I have many people I can thank for helping get me here, but one in particular carries a lot of weight—so, thank you Mom. I truly owe you a lot for putting me in that first ballet class!


Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Hallelujah Broadway Kicks off the Auditorium Season! [video]

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Hallelujah Broadway

Saturday, September 17

Experience the emotional power of Broadway's most uplifting and powerful songs that have inspired millions of theatergoers. Showcasing inspired vocal performances from three featured soloists, including the amazing tenor Rodrick Dixon, the powerful soprano Alfreda Burke and the marvelous Irish Tenor Anthony Kearns, with a 32-piece orchestra and chorus. Including songs from Godspell, Wicked, Rent, West Side Story, and Les Miserables among others.


Receive $10 OFF your ticket purchase until Labor Day!
Use code AUDITORIUM.

Available on price levels II & III only. Valid until 11:59 pm on 9.5.2011. May not be combined with other offers or promotions. Not valid on previously purchased tickets. Subject to availability; restrictions apply.

Ticketmaster | 800.982.ARTS (2787)
Box Office: 50 E. Congress Pkwy
Subscriptions and Groups 10+: 312.431.2357



Thursday, August 25, 2011

Leonard Bernstein's Birthday!

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Hey!

It is Leonard Bernstein's 93rd Birthday!!!

Make sure you listen to a song from West Side Story sometime today in honor of him! And perhaps a nice FB and Twitter post on his behalf.

"Something's Coming" from West Side Story



Bernstein conducting his Candide Overture:

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Turn, Turn, Turn: Dance for Life at 20

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Live and in-person on Saturday, Aug. 20 at the Auditorium Theatre—and now a WTTW documentary, too!

By Cindy Stern

It seems such a short time ago that my friends and I assembled with other volunteers in the lobby of the Organic Theater on North Clark Street the night of the first Dance for Life (DFL). We were there to do something to call attention to the HIV/AIDS epidemic that had taken so many of our loved ones’ lives in and out of the Chicago dance community. We did not know how many others would show up, but if they did, we were hell bent on selling them a T-shirt! Before we knew it, our stock was sold out, as was the house of 400. A slightly tipsy newscaster in a pretty party dress made a speech before Dean Richards introduced the first of several dance companies from a stage so small, you couldn’t be sure all the leaps would be properly landed. In the end, everyone was on their feet—wildly clapping, exhilarated, empowered to do more—raise money and consciousness, get others involved, start planning next year.

Fast forward to 19 more big August nights. Backstage and from perches in the Chicago Athenaeum, Skyline Stage at Navy Pier, Harris Theater, and now, the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University—ten times the size of our original venue—we still hope that our hard work, donations and applause can will HIV/AIDS away. The story may have changed, but millions of people, locally and globally, are still very much affected by the disease each day.

The idea that Keith Elliott, Harriet Ross, Danny Kopelson and Gail Kalver brought to life in 1991 has transformed, too. In fact, in an ironic twist, the more the DFL community has grown, the more intimate it has become. Committee members, dancers, choreographers, AIDS Foundation of Chicago staff and board, donors and more—once strangers—have evolved into close friends. Thanks to Diane Rawlinson, students at Wheeling High School have remained supporters through their college years and beyond. With their amazing finales, Randy Duncan and Harrison McEldowney have demonstrated that the limits of artistic collaboration are truly boundless.

I hope you’ll join us on August 20th.

If you’ve ever performed or otherwise participated in Dance for Life, you’ve most likely not only enjoyed the experience, you’ve understood, on a very profound, visceral level, that the event opens you up to a greater generosity of spirit: compassion, appreciation of and love for fellow human beings.


Cindy SternCindy Stern is a Chicago-based writer, event producer and creative strategist with 20+ years’ experience in cause-related marketing. She currently serves as coordinator of the Chicago Festival of Israeli Cinema and is completing her master’s degree in nonprofit management at Spertus Institute. She co-chaired Dance for Life in 2005-2006.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Interns, Get Your Applications In!

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Do you have a desire to learn about what really goes on behind the scenes at a theatre? Are you passionate about live and performing arts, arts administration, or arts education? Do you want to put the skills you’ve been acquiring in the classroom to use in the real world? If so, you should apply for an internship at the Auditorium Theatre. We offer several different areas of concentration, which include: arts administration, creative engagement, operations, hospitality, marketing, sales, production, and sustainability.

Arts Administration

The Arts Administration internship program is designed to introduce the intern to all aspects of arts management applicable to the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University.

Creative Engagement

The Department of Creative Engagement offers a wide variety of diverse arts opportunities. From professional development for teachers, in-school residencies, master classes and a dynamic student matinee series to historic theatre tours, traveling musical productions with accompanying curriculum and lesson plans, and our summer camp for children who have lost a parent to death - Hands Together, Heart to Art, the Auditorium Theatre strives to provide meaningful and accessible arts experiences to the Chicago community.

Operations

The Operations Internship will focus on general theatre operations, specifically Production, Front of House, Food and Beverage, Box Office and Maintenance. Candidates will work closely with ATRU staff in developing a comprehensive understanding of the practical application of operating a large, non-profit theatre.

Hospitality

The Hospitality internship will provide an intern interested in Hospitality administration insight into concessions management. It will also help develop the administrative, operative, and customer service skills involved in managing all aspects of Food & Beverage operations and event management as it relates to the Auditorium Theatre.

Marketing

The Marketing Internship will provide the intern with a multifaceted understanding of the different aspects of marketing in a theatre setting. This internship will introduce the intern to real world experiences in the field of marketing.

Sales

The Sales Internship will provide the intern with a multifaceted understanding of the different aspects of Sales in a large, non-profit theatre setting. This internship will introduce the intern to real world experiences in the field of sales including understanding customer service.

Production

The Production Internship will focus on all of the aspects of production involved in preparing, running and loading out productions from the venue perspective.

Sustainability

The Sustainability Internship will assist in the development of sustainable operations and administration of a national historic landmark theatre.

More information, including the application, is available at our website (www.auditoirumtheatre.org) under the employment sections located in the “About Us” section. Anyone interested in a Fall 2011 Internship should apply immediately at education@auditoriumtheatre.org. The deadline from the Fall 2011 semester is August 15th.

Also, if you want some insight as to what it’s like to be intern at the Auditorium Theatre, check out the Summer Interns’ farewell blog.

http://auditoriumtheatre.blogspot.com/2011/08/intern-outros-summer-in-intern-nutshell.html

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