WORDPLAY GALA 2023 SUPPORTERS
SPIRIT OF WRITERS THEATRE HONOREES THOMAS HODGES AND CHRISTOPHER N. KNIGHT
CO-CHAIRS
NICOLE ELIPAS DOHERTY AND SONIA SMITH-EVANS
LEAD SPONSOR
ALEXANDRA C. & JOHN D. NICHOLS
VICE-CHAIRS
BMO HARRIS BANK
SAVI PAI & HOWARD RANDELL AND CAPITAL GROUP PRIVATE CLIENT SERVICES
JOHN & FRANCESCA EDWARDSON
GILLIAN & ELLIS GOODMAN
GAIL & THOMAS HODGES
J.P. MORGAN CHASE
RUSS & ANNE MAYERFELD
CHRISTOPHER S. & SARA PFAFF
ELAINE & RICHARD TINBERG
LINDA & CRAIG UMANS
THYS & KENDRA NICHOLS WALLACE
SPONSORS
ALLSTATE
SARA & DAN COHAN
LAURIE & MICHAEL PETERSEN
MARY PAT & ANDY STUDDERT
BENEFACTORS
EMILY & CHRISTOPHER N. KNIGHT
LLOYD MORGAN
SUPPORTERS
NICOLE ELIPAS DOHERTY & BRIAN DOHERTY
CHAZ HAMMEL-SMITH EBERT & ROGEREBERT.COM
FOX SWIBEL LEVIN & CARROLL LLP
HEIDI KIESLER
CHRISTINE & MICHAEL POPE
JUDY & JIM RAUH
SONIA SMITH-EVANS & KEITH PEGUES
DAVID & DONNA TROPP
SEASON SPONSOR
*AS OF APRIL 26, 2023
WordPlay Gala 2
DAY AT THE PRIVATE RICH HARVEST FARMS GOLF COURSE
Treat yourself and two guests to a day on the green at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois, to play 18 holes with a BMO Harris representative
This exclusive course is ranked on Golf Digest’s “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses” and ranked in the top ten on Golf Digest’s “Best Course in the State”
Enjoy a delicious lunch with your guests and BMO Harris at the Clubhouse Dining Room
Dates are based on mutual availability. Package must be redeemed by September 4, 2023
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CREDIT: STEPHEN GREEN
LIVE AUCTION 1
FAMILY NIGHT AT FORTS! BUILD YOUR OWN ADVENTURE
Enjoy this exclusive buyout of FORTS!, a collaborative piece created by Filament Theatre, and build new worlds in this one-of-a-kind play-space for children, parents, and grandparents — the whole family
The Gillian Theatre will be transformed into new worlds using everyday items like cardboard boxes, sheets, and clotheslines, complete with theatrical design elements that bring imagination to life
The evening will begin with a pre-show pizza party in our Green Rehearsal Room for crafts, theatre games, and fun led by Adventure Guides.
Suggested for 2+
This package includes 30 tickets; perfect for a birthday party or special night or afternoon with family and friends
Dates are based on availability. Package must be redeemed during the Fall 2023 run of FORTS!
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LIVE AUCTION 2
CUBS SUITE WITH WT’S NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, BRADEN ABRAHAM
Enjoy America’s favorite pastime at Wrigley Field with Braden Abraham
Join hosts Christopher and Sara Pfaff to celebrate Braden’s first summer in Chicago!
See the Cubs play from a private suite, and enjoy complimentary food and beverages throughout the game for your group of 15
Prime location of Executive Suite 47 located behind home plate on the first base side
Retreat to the Four Seasons for a luxurious stay for two with complimentary breakfast the following morning
Package available for Chicago Cubs vs. Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 6:15 PM
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LIVE AUCTION 3
BROADWAY BOUND WITH BRADEN ABRAHAM AND KATE LIPUMA
You and a guest can take a bite out of the Big Apple with WT’s leadership team, Braden Abraham and Kate Lipuma
Enjoy tickets to two of the hottest Broadway shows and choose from titles like:
Leopoldstadt
Parade
Shucked
Some Like It Hot
Retreat in luxur y with a two-night stay in Manhattan proper
Experience an unforgettable dining experience at a renowned NYC restaurant
Date based on mutual availability. Package must be redeemed by July 31, 2024
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LIVE AUCTION 4
EXCLUSIVE NIGHT AT WRITERS THEATRE
Enjoy a VIP experience with 20 premium seats to one of the 2023/24 productions
You and your group will enjoy pre-show drinks with VIP access to our lobby bar
The night is young! Retire to the exclusive Patron’s Lounge for a private, post-show reception with WT leadership and the artists
Dates are based on availability. Package must be redeemed by July 31, 2024
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LIVE AUCTION 5
AUCTION & APPRAISAL LLC KERRY SAYERS, PROFESSIONAL LICENSED AUCTIONEER
Kerry Sayers has spent more than twenty-five years in broadcasting, working in radio and television. She spent the first two decades of her career as a sports broadcaster, and currently co-hosts the nationally broadcast historical news magazine show “Through the Decades” on Decades TV.
As an event/benefit emcee and auctioneer, Kerry uses her energy, enthusiasm, and lighthearted humor to engage the audience and encourage them to give for the good of others, helping organizations meet their fundraising goals.
Kerry and her husband live in the Chicago suburbs with their two children. They met volunteering at a soup kitchen, and continue to serve and support numerous charities in Chicagoland and beyond.
Lamoreaux Auction Benefit Services
Lamoreaux & Associates is dedicated to supporting non-profit agencies and charitable causes reach their fundraising goals. Our team provides pre-event consulting and professional auctioneers to support your event. We serve groups of all sizes in their efforts to achieve financial success.
LAMOREAUX
For their invaluable support, Writers Theatre extends a sincere
THANK YOU
to our generous friends who helped make the Live Auction and tonight’s entire event possible:
KATIE FLORIG AND BMO HARRIS
JOE MAZZA—BRAVE LUX
CHRIS AND SARA PFAFF
THE FOUR SEASONS HOTEL CHICAGO UBS
Share your evening with Writers Theatre!
Tag Writers Theatre on Facebook, @WritersTheatre on Twitter and @writers_theatre on Instagram with the hashtag #WordPlayGala.
WRITERS THEATRE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Braden Abraham, Artistic Director
Kate Lipuma, Executive Director
Mary Pat Studdert, Chair
Gillian Goodman, Vice-Chair
Thomas Hodges, Vice-Chair
Elaine Tinberg, Vice-Chair
Linda Umans, Vice-Chair
Savi Pai, Secretary
Jaime Freeman, Treasurer
Sara Cohan
Nicole Elipas Doherty
Katie Florig
Bruce Grieve
Christopher N. Knight
Russ Mayerfeld
Lloyd Morgan
Michael Petersen
Christopher S. Pfaff
Judy Rauh
Stephanie Sick
Sonia Smith-Evans
Donna Tropp
Kendra Nichols Wallace
