Lookingglass fetes John Mahoney
WITH ELIZABETH HAMEL March 6, 2012 10:38AM
Left to right Jon Harris, Sara Lee, gglassquerade co-chair; Rachel Kraft, Executive Director, Lookingglass; Richard Ditton, Lookingglass Board Chairman, Incredible Technologies; Jill Meier, Goldman Sachs, gglassquerade co-chair; John Mahoney, Actor, Lookingglass Spirit Award recipient; Joe Brady, President, Lookingglass Board of Directors, Jones Lang LaSalle
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Updated: April 7, 2012 8:11AM
Lookingglass Theatre ensemble actors, board members, and supporters gathered Saturday night at the W Chicago City Center, 172 W. Madison, to fete a fellow Chicago theater thespian, “Frasier” star John Mahoney, at the 24th annual gglassquerade gala.
Almost 350 partygoers began the evening with cocktails as they perused the silent auction. Dinner of grilled shrimp and filet of beef surf-and-turf followed, as guests happily munched away during the program hosted by ensemble member Joey Slotnick.
Former “Friends” cast member David Schwimmer presented Mahoney the Lookingglass Spirit Award. Mahoney, visibly choked up from Schwimmer’s kind introduction, made his way onstage, where he received a standing ovation. “The only thing that would be better than this prize would be to give me a job,” he quipped, “Let me work in a play.”
The gala attracted quite a few familiar faces, including Rick Bayless — who will star in “Rick Bayless in Cascabel,” a culinary and theatrical experience running March 23-April 22 at Lookingglass’ Water Tower Theater — as well as co-chairs Jill Reznick Heier of Goldman Sachs and Jon Harris of Sara Lee.
The festivities continued as guests made their way to the after party, complete with tunes from the Gentlemen of Leisure and sleek sofa seating. Many packed the dance floor, while others sipped wine and snacked on mini-burgers and fries until late in the evening.
Tickets were a whopping $2,500 per couple and, in total, the event raised more than $600,000 to support Lookingglass’ future programming.
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Those of Chicago’s 35-and-under set were out in full force Feb 24 to raise money at Tickled Pink, held at the River East Art Center. The annual event was the biggest (more than 900 attended) and most profitable in its seven-year history, raising $50,000 for the Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization, which provides support networks for those who face a breast cancer diagnosis.
Pink dresses were the wardrobe item du jour, with quite a few ladies choosing to accent their frocks with blush-colored boas and beads. Partygoers sipped pink grapefruit cocktails while snacking on maki rolls and mini-sandwiches.
Local newscasters and media folks were tasked to tend bar and help sell tickets for the raffle. Top prize: a Los Angeles getaway for two, complete with round-trip airfare, hotel stay and more.
