11-24-06
Links Gets Managing Director
Appointments
Links Hall has hired Jennifer Thornton as its first-ever managing director, a new, full-time position. She’ll work with executive director CJ Mitchell. A Tennessee native, Thornton came to Chicago in 2002 to earn an MA in Arts Management from Columbia College Chicago. Previously, she’d interned in the press office of the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Since arriving here, she’s worked with The Illinois Arts Alliance, The Field Museum, Chicago International Film Festival and Urban Gateways. She began work at Links Hall on Oct. 16. Thornton will focus on the marketing and audience development, and will manage artistic programs, interns, and volunteers.
FYI: Thornton’s hire is the most recent advancement in a period of significant expansion at Links Hall, the intimate venue for independent dance and performance that’s been around since 1978. Under Mitchell, who became the first Links Hall executive director only in 2004, both the organizational budget and attendance numbers have doubled, and the board has initiated a five-year strategic plan.
Awards and Honors
The City of Chicago has presented Lifeline Theatre and Joyce Kilmer Elementary School an award honoring their educational partnership of over 15 years. The award was presented by Mayor Richard M. Daley during a luncheon at the Chicago Hilton and Towers on Nov. 2. As part of its education outreach program, Lifeline artists have served as artists-in-residence at Joyce Kilmer School, working with classroom teachers to teach elementary school curriculum using drama skills. They’ve worked with every grade from kindergarten to sixth over the years. Kilmer principal Miguel Trujillo and his staff applied for the award, citing Lifeline’s commitment and innovation in their classrooms.
“We are very devoted to our Rogers Park neighborhood schools,” said Lifeline artistic director Dorothy Milne. “We believe that there is no more important way we can give back to our community than to help its children get excited about stories and reading.”
They don’t look anything alike and they don’t sound anything alike, Heaven knows, but Apple Tree Theatre executive artistic director Eileen Boevers is a recipient of a 2006 Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award, courtesy of the Illinois Humanities Council (IHC), which presents the awards every other year. The Terkel Awards recognize individuals who have made a lasting contribution to the cultural life of their communities. Suitable nominees, according to the IHC, are the types of people who keep the doors to the historical society open, read books to children after school, and draw connections between the past and future of their communities. Heck, we thought Eileen just birthed Broadway stars and taught kids to sing and dance. Boevers was nominated for the honor by Highland Park mayor Michael Belsky, who will present the Terkel to her Nov. 27th at a meeting of the Highland Park City Council.
Joliet-raised (no, not in prison) theatre and film star Anthony Rapp and Teatro Luna cofounder Coya Paz are among those who will receive 2006 Trailblazer Awards, given annually by Bailiwick Repertory to honor members and friends of the GLBT community in fields of arts, journalism, community activism and sports. They are presented in memory of past Bailiwick board president Larry Osburn. Rapp originated the Broadway roles of Ben (the son) in John Guare’s Six Degrees of Separation and Mark Cohen, the aspiring filmmaker/narrator of Rent. His film appearances include Adventures in Babysitting, School Ties, Dazed and Confused and A Beautiful Mind. The multi-faceted Paz writes for theatre and poetry platform, directs and often occupies the producer’s chair for Teatro Luna productions. The Trailblazers will be awarded on Dec. 4 in a reception at Joey’s Brickhouse Restaurant and ceremonies at Bailiwick. This humble writer also will receive a Trailblazer Award that evening, and is honored to be in the company of Rapp, Paz and worthy recipients from non-theatre fields.
Blessed Events
It’s a Black nativity to be sure, although not precisely the one that Congo Square Theatre Company will present Dec. 1-31 at the Duncan YMCA Chernin Center. On Oct. 19, Congo Square ensemble member Ann Joseph, wife of fellow ensemble member Aaron Todd Douglas, gave birth to a daughter, Basha Elizabeth Douglas. All are well. The Douglases both were seen last spring in Stick Fly at Congo Square. Aaron Todd Douglas is scheduled to appear in Congo Square’s upcoming Joe Turner’s Come and Gone at the Goodman Theatre (Jan. 20 – Feb. 18). Ms. Joseph and Ms. Douglas are expected to appear soon and constantly in enough videos and digital photos to make you sick. Congo-ratulations!