Auditorium Theatre 2021-2022, Issue 4, Ballet Hispanico

AUDITORIUM THEATRE :: BALLET HISPÁNICO | 3 Dear friends, For more than 130 years, the Auditorium Theatre has been bringing artists and audiences together to celebrate the transformative power of the performing arts. Thank you for joining us and being part of that legacy. Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) has designated 2022 as the “Year of Chicago Dance.” Here at the Auditorium we are proud to celebrate that and play our part as one of the city’s largest presenters of dance artists from across the city, country and around the world. We are excited to present Ballet Hispánico in the Chicago Premiere of Doña Perón . This powerful new full-length work by astounding choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa is based on the extraordinary life of Eva “Evita” Perón. Led by Artistic Director and CEO Eduardo Vilaro, who founded Chicago’s legendary Luna Negra Dance Theater, this innovative company has been celebrating and exploring Latinx cultures through innovative dance performances for over 50 years. But the Auditorium is about more than dance. Our historic landmark stage is the home to live music, theater, spoken word and some of the leading voices of our time in all disciplines. In addition, we serve as the home for countless moments of celebration and community. Just last month, we hosted a special naturalization ceremony where more than 400 people from 82 countries became United States citizens. Imagine being welcomed into this country on this magnificent stage. In April, we are honored to host a special engagement with Hamilton’s Tony Award-winning Broadway icon, Renée Elise Goldsberry. Renée performs a high-energy spiritual journey reminiscent of a good old-fashioned revival singing pop, soul, and Broadway classics. The last in our three-event series of National Geographic Live will be Social by Nature with biologist-turned-photographer Ronan Donovan, as he talks about the similarities we humans share with other social mammals in the animal kingdom and what we can learn from them. We hope you will return to the Auditorium in June, when we close out our season by highlighting more incredible dance from Giordano Dance Chicago. Whether you are visiting the Auditorium for the first time with friends and family, or have been here too many times to count, we can’t do what we do without your support. As we bring artists, audiences and communities together for the unique experience of seeing something live on stage, thank you for being part of the Auditorium family. ENJOY THE PERFORMANCE! Rich Regan Ann Nash Chief Executive Officer Chair Auditorium Theatre Auditorium Theatre Board of Directors Cover: Auditorium Theatre, photo by Arturo Gonzalez. Ballet Hispánico’s Amanda del Valle in Doña Perón , photo by Rachel Neville. Inset: Photo by Julia Nash Photography.