The Event: Halcyon Theatre presented its Iris awards at its annual “Night of Flight” fundraiser at Chicago’s Ignite Glass Studios on Jan. 22. The 2016 recipients, Coya Paz and Chay Yew, were honored before 155 guests for their outstanding commitment to connecting Chicago’s communities and the arts.
Located in Chicago’s Albany Park, 10-year-old Halcyon’s troupe is made up of 19 members and draws audiences from the city and suburbs.
Cause Célebre: “Our mission is to make the stage as diverse as the city of Chicago,” said Denise Hoeflich of Glencoe, event co-chairman, board president and company member. “So when you come to one of our productions you will see people on stage that you don’t normally see, in roles that they are not necessarily represented in at other theaters.”
Hoeflich has been with Halcyon since 2012 and is committed to the theater’s mission because of “how passionate the people involved in the company are.”
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“It’s a great reason to come into the city and incredible to watch (Halcyon) go from as small as it was to getting bigger and bigger,” said Jane Forester of Glencoe.
And educator Marita Zadina of Glencoe stressed that: “The educational outreach for Halcyon is excellent and will have a big impact in Albany Park and the surrounding neighborhood.”
Zadina noted that cutbacks for art programs in public schools make it important for local theaters to bring arts programming directly into the city’s neighborhoods. “So that the kids have a chance… and Halcyon is doing it through summer camps and through teacher outreach programs. So it’s a double benefit to put it into this neighborhood.”
Bottom Line: The event raised $75,000 for the theater. See www.halcyontheatre.org.