Victory Gardens 29th Annual Casting Auction Benefit to take place November 19

Nov 8, 2010
Victory Gardens Theater

Victory Gardens Artistic Director Dennis Zacek and Executive Director Jan Kallish announce The Casting Auction Benefit, the theater's wildly unique fundraiser designed to give "regular people" a taste of what life is like on the other side of the footlights. The Casting Auction will take place on November 19, 2010, 6:00 p.m., at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. Throughout the evening, lead roles for Thoroughly Modern Millie will be auctioned off and supporting roles will be available through a silent auction.

The highest bidders at the event will begin a three-month rehearsal process under the direction of Artistic Director Dennis Zacek, with musical direction by Robert Ollis and choreography by Angie Schoofs. The cast will perform on February 25 and 26 at Chicago's Athenaeum Theatre.

The benefit directly supports Victory Gardens continued efforts to bring exciting, new voices to the stage; its acclaimed education programs in the classrooms of Chicago's most under-served public schools; and its award-winning access and assistive services.

Co-chairs for the 29th Casting Auction Benefit and Performances are Nancy Studenroth and Myles Tobin. Both of these individuals serve on the Board of Directors at Victory Gardens Theater and are long time supporters of and participants in the Casting Auction Benefit and Performances. Nancy Studenroth is a Senior Vice President at Gleacher & Company Securities, Inc. Myles Tobin is a partner at Fletcher & Sippel LLC.

Tickets are $60 in advance; $200 for a group of four in advance; $75 at the door and include cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and entertainment. Individuals making a donation of at least $100 will be recognized as a member of the Angel Committee, honoring Dennis Zacek in his final year as Artistic Director and director of the Casting Auction Performances.

Tickets are available by contacting Johnny Merrifield at 773.549.5788.

About The Casting Auction

The Victory Gardens Theater Casting Auction Benefit and Performances started in 1980, at the suggestion of the late Chicago attorney Joan Grossman. Originally called "The Casting Couch Auction," roles in the play Tobacco Road, by Erskine Caldwell, were sold to the highest bidder. That first year, top roles sold for $500 and director Dennis Zacek swore never to do it again. However, once bitten by the "bug," the Victory Gardens supporters insisted on a repeat benefit, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was selected as the production. Dennis was once again corralled into doing directorial honors.

Each year casts have been comprised of doctors, lawyers, teachers, and anyone else willing to put forth the cash to buy their way onto the stage in support of Victory Gardens Theater. In 2008, the role of Mame Dennis in Mame hit an all time high at $19,300. Casting Auction Performances have taken place at the Greenhouse Theater Center (formerly Victory Gardens Theater's home), Briar Street Theatre, Columbia's Getz Theatre, Coronet Playhouse in Evanston, the First Chicago Center, the Civic, and most consistently Chicago's Athenaeum Theatre. Now in its 29th year, and Dennis Zacek's last year as its director, the musical chosen for the 2010-2011 Casting Auction Benefit and Performances is Thoroughly Modern Millie.