Graham Elliot and his wife Allie are big fans of the Beverly Arts Center. When she was still Allie Mundell, Allie spent a lot of time taking art classes and performing in plays at the BAC. As parents, Graham and Allie are providing their children with opportunities to expand their creativity just a few blocks from their home.
“The BAC is an integral part of our community, city and our family,” said Elliot, better known to the neighborhood and the nation as Chef Graham Elliot. On Sat., Apr. 1, Graham and Allie will co-chair the BAC’s all new Gala & Auction with 19th Ward. Ald. Matthew O’Shea and his wife Cara.
“We are so honored to be involved with their fundraising event this year,” Elliot said. “We hope we see the community gather around for their event and support the BAC!”
“The Beverly Arts Center is one of the 19th Ward’s true treasures,” Ald. O’Shea said. “Even though we share it with audiences and students from throughout the city, it was our community that built the BAC – both times! – and it’s the generous arts patrons, families, institutions and businesses in our community that support it, sustain it and make it great.”
Love Shack Dance Party
The event debuts as Love Shack, a 1970s dance party Sat., Apr. 1 at the BAC, 2407 W. 111th St. The party will rock with music by ReTurn2SouL. This high energy six-piece band covers favorite R&B, Jazz and pop tunes from top talents like James Brown, Prince, Steely Dan and The Temptations. Party-goers, get ready to dance!
With the price of admission, revelers can enjoy open bar and hors d’oeuvres by Private Chef Alvin Green, and engage in friendly-to-fierce competition in the live auction that features a five-day, four-night trip including airfare to Casona Rosa B&B in the heart of Morelia, Mexico, a UNESCO-designated, 16th century historic resort at the foot of the Sierra Madre Occidental — an ideal base for witnessing the famous migration of the Monarch butterflies.
Other auction items include: two round trip tickets to Europe on a major airline exclusively planned by IRI Worldwide’s Travel Department, White Sox Diamond Suite Skybox, a Jerrell Freeman autographed Chicago Bears helmet, and – in keeping with the dance party theme! – a Dean Zelinsky guitar. Silent auction items include a variety of museum and theater tickets and dinner certificates.
Quality Programming at the Heart of the Community
The Beverly Arts Center was founded in 1967 and built by a community committed to serving local families with art classes and cultural activities. It’s likely that no one at the ground-breaking for the original center a half mile east of the current location would have predicted the big and bustling Beverly Art Center of today.
Each year, more than 2,000 children and adults from throughout the area enjoy classes, performances, exhibits and events at the 40,000 square foot building. An additional 3,000 students from across the city receive quality arts education and performances through the BAC’s extensive outreach program.
“We have attended wonderful plays at the Center, enrolled in art and music classes that have enriched our little guys’ day to day lives greatly, and even hosted a few events with them,” Elliot said. “We are so lucky to have this wonderful establishment in our neighborhood.”
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the new Beverly Arts Center building. The Fund-A-Need in the live auction will raise funds for projects that will improve the look and functionality of the facility’s public spaces. Funds raised from ticket sales, live and silent auctions will support the BAC’s programs and School of the Arts.
Admission to the Love Shack
The Love Shack, the BAC Gala & Auction, will be held 7 to 11 p.m., Sat., Apr. 1. Tickets are $75 and are available at www.beverlyartcenter.org or 773-445-3838.
The Beverly Arts Center is a vibrant and multifaceted not-for-profit organization serving the Chicago metro area with high-quality programs in dance, visual arts, music, film and theater. The facility a 400-seat theatre, art gallery, exhibition spaces, music and dance studios and art classrooms.
