Capital Campaign
Chicago Sun-Times – February 2006: “It’s a done deal – or at least it should be by 2 p.m. today. That’s when Black Ensemble Theater will sign on the dotted line and take possession of its new 50,000 square foot home at 4440 N. Clark Street in the Uptown neighborhood.”
Chicago Sun-Times - September 2006: "Plans are underway for the Ensemble's biggest project, a move to a new home in 2008. The hope is that by branching out with multiple productions, the company will expand its audience for tht larger venue."
Jackie Taylor, Founder and Executive Director: "Thirty years have passed and now it is time to climb a new mountain – the development of a new Cultural Center that will house a state-of-the-art theater with rehearsal and classroom space to enhance every aspect of our programming!"
Dionne Warwick, Honorary National Chair: “I am honored and proud to have been asked to be the National Honorary Chairperson of the Black Ensemble Theater’s capital campaign. The Black Ensemble Theater is not only a Chicago gem, but also makes a vital contribution to our nation’s theater community by providing a forum for the cultivation of emerging young talent….and I hope I do them proud. I thank them for this and yes…That’s What Friends Are For.”
Mayor Richard M. Daley: “Chicago is a great city because our public and private sectors work together to create a better quality of life for residents. A great example of this partnership is the Black Ensemble Theater’s new Cultural Center in Uptown. By working together, we will give the residents of Uptown a new community anchor that will provide our children with positive activities after school and during the summer. I commend the Black Ensemble Theater on this project and for their ongoing commitment of using theater as a cultural bridge that promotes understanding and acceptance among residents.”
The Black Ensemble Theater will break new ground as it launches a campaign to raise $20 Million to create a permanent home for the company, while expanding and enhancing its many educational and outreach programs.
Over the years, audiences have continued to grow, production values on stage have been augmented, and the scope of the Black Ensemble Theater’s community outreach has expanded.
As the company flourishes, so must the physical space that supports its many diverse programs. Today, the company has the opportunity to build a new home to showcase its world-class performances, and serve as the hub of activity towards supporting the educational, artistic, and outreach efforts that are crucial to the Theater’s mission.
The time has come for the Black Ensemble Theater to embark on its most ambitious production to date – a campaign to raise $20 Million for the new Black Ensemble Theater Center, program expansion, and a fund to sustain future activities. Just around the corner from its existing facility lies a perfect space to house the future Black Ensemble Theater Center. This new space, located in the Uptown neighborhood on the corner of Clark and Sunnyside, provides an unparalleled opportunity for the Theater to take the next critical step in its evolution as a premier Chicago cultural institution. To date, $6 Million has already been secured in governmental support. An additional $14 Million is needed to make the vision of a new home a reality.
The new facility is being designed by world-renowned theater architect, John Morris, whose accomplishments include the Steppenwolf and Looking Glass Theaters. The New Theater will be designed to reflect the colorful history and essence of the Black Ensemble Theater, with the use of modern and forward-looking architectural components. Central to the new facility’s design are two performance stages. An expanded main stage that seats 300 people, as well as a new secondary stage that seats 150 people, will greatly increase the Theater’s capacity.
Today, the Theater is able to reach 60,000 individuals annually; the new expanded facility will allow it to reach an astounding 140,000 individuals annually.
The co-chairs of our Capital Campaign Committee, Christie Hefner, William Marovitz, Langdon Neal and Jeannette Sublette, have amassed a highly effective and resourceful 26-member capital campaign committee, who has designed an impressive plan of action to insure that we meet our capital campaign goals. The Capital Campaign Committee consists of highly prominent and influential member and includes Elzie Higginbottom, Bob Jordan, Steven Koch, Jim Reynolds, Alan Bell, Diana Joy Harris Hennington and Lester Coney. Legendary recording star Dionne Warwick is our Honorary National Chair for the campaign. Lois Weisberg, Commissioner of Cultural Affairs for the City of Chicago, serves as the Honorary Chair.
An Invitation to Play Your Part
The Black Ensemble Theater is committed to using theater as a cultural bridge, bringing together people of all nationalities and cultures to facilitate communication, understanding and acceptance, while celebrating the uniqueness of the human spirit. There is no other organization in Chicago that attracts such a widely diverse audience. While the vision of the Founder - to eradicate racism - may seem like an impossible task, every journey begins by stepping out, moving forward and having the tenacity to dream. Your investment in the Next Stage Campaign is an investment in that dream. Connecting people through the magic of theater is an opportunity to be an agent of change – one person, one audience, one community at a time.
If you wish to make a donation to our capital campaign, please contact Davina Martin, Associate Director of Development, at 773.769-5201 or you may e-mail her at Dmartin@blackensemble.com
