THE SAINTS VOLUNTEERS FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS CELEBRATE CHICAGO PERFORMING ARTS ON TUES. JUNE 3

Header_--_Negative_Static_Banner_2One night after the Non-Equity Jeff Awards, Chicago’s vibrant performing arts scene will continue to be celebrated on Tues. June 3 at the new home of the Theatre School at DePaul University, 2350 N. Racine, as the Saints Volunteers for the Performing Arts presents their first presentation and celebration of their grant awards to 22 varied Chicago area performing arts organizations.  The program will begin at 7 p.m.

Although the Saints has had a grant program since 1995 and has awarded more than $500,000 to performing arts organizations,  award presentations were made to individual companies at their various venues in the past.  For the first time, all 22 organizations have been invited to accept their grants ranging from $800 to $7,500 at the June 3 presentation.  The organizations are:

Akavit Theatre

American Blues Theater

Artemisia, a Chicago Theatre

Chicago Dance Crash

Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble

City Lit Theater Company

Filament Theatre Ensemble

Genesis Theatrical Productions

The Gift Theatre Company

Halcyon Theatre

Haymarket Opera Company

Interrobang Theatre Project

Jackalope Theatre Company

Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co

Oracle Theatre

The Plagiarists

Pride Films and Plays

Profiles Theatre

Redtwist Theatre.

Signal Ensemble Theatre

Strawdog Theatre Company

Theatre-Hikes

Helping the Saints present the grants on June 3 will be Sheldon Patinkin, chair emeritus of the Theater Department of Columbia College Chicago, a director, adapter, playwright and author with more than 60 years of experience in Chicago theater.

Although this is a general meeting of the Saints, the public is cordially invited to attend on Tues. June 3 at the Theatre School at DePaul University, 2350 N. Racine, starting at 7 p.m.  Information on joining the Saints will be available at the presentation.

The more than 2,000 members of The Saints Volunteers for the Performing Arts provide ushering and other volunteer services to almost 100 performing arts companies and venues throughout the Chicago area and are the only organization of their kind in the U.S.  In addition, the Saints awards grants to deserving performing arts organizations and presents general meetings that allow members to meet major figures in the Chicago performing arts scene.  A Saints membership allows Chicagoans to experience a wide variety of events at a low cost.  More information on the Saints Volunteers for the Performing Arts and online membership signup is available at saintschicago.org.