Illinois Conservatory for the Arts (ICA), a non-profit arts education institution in the Western suburbs, will host its 4th annual A Night of Broadway benefit Gala & Concert featuring a star-studded lineup of Broadway performers singing their signature selections and other Broadway hits with a 20-piece live orchestra. This year’s performers are Eden Espinosa, one of the original Elphaba’s in Wicked and a 2024 Tony Award nominee for Best Leading Actress in Lempicka; Joaquina Kalukango, 2022 Tony Award winner for Best Leading Actress in Paradise Square; Kecia Lewis 2024 Tony Award winner for Best Featured Actress in Hell’s Kitchen; Michael Longoria whose Broadway credits include Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys and Hairspray. Samantha Pauly who played Katherine Howard in the North American premiere of Six at Chicago Shakespeare Theater and transferred to Broadway and currently stars in Broadway’s The Great Gatsby and Christine Sherrill, a familiar Chicago name currently portraying Donna in Broadway’s Mamma Mia. Veteran Broadway music director Matthew Croft leads the orchestra. The evening will be hosted by yet another Broadway star, Brittney Mack who originated the role of Anna of Cleves in Six and was recently seen on the Goodman stage as Celie in The Color Purple. A Night of Broadway takes place at The Matrix Club, 808 Illinois Rte 59 in Naperville on Saturday evening, February 21st.
Top Row: Eden Espinosa, Christine Sherrill, Joaquina Kalukango
Bottom Row: Kecia Lewis, Michael Longoria, Samantha Pauly
Attendees have the option of purchasing a ticket for either the full evening gala or the concert-only program. Full gala tickets, which start at $250, include a cocktail hour starting at 5:00 PM followed by a plated dinner, auction, VIP seating for the performance, and a DJ-hosted, open-bar, after party where guests can mingle with the performers. The concert-only ticket at $100 includes the 7:30 PM performance and access to the after party. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit ilconservatory.org/events.
The program for the night includes Espinosa performing "I Will Paint Her" – Lempicka and "Being Alive" – Company; Kalukango performing "Let It Burn" - Paradise Square and "The Impossible Dream" - Man of La Mancha; Lewis performing "I Am Changing" – Dreamgirls and "Authors of Forever" - Hell's Kitchen; Longoria performing "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" - Jersey Boys, and "A Quiet Thing" - Flora the Red Menace; Pauly performing "Anywhere But Here" - Honeymoon in Vegas and "Waving Through A Window" - Dear Evan Hansen; and Sherrill performing "The Winner Takes It All" - Mamma Mia!.
“A Night of Broadway is ICA’s biggest fundraiser every year and helps ensure that we can continue to offer high quality arts education to the students of Chicagoland, but it’s also an incredibly fun night!” said ICA Executive Director Dylan Ladd. “This year, as in years past, we have secured some of the most exciting performers working on Broadway today. In addition to getting to hear all these talented artists in one night, audiences have the amazing opportunity to meet and mingle with these stars during the afterparty.”
About Illinois Conservatory for the Arts
Founded in 2020, the Illinois Conservatory for the Arts (originally Academy of the Arts) is a non-profit educational institution in Naperville. Led by professional artists, Executive Director Dylan Ladd and Artistic Director Chadaé Nichol, ICA offers high-level arts education for adolescents and teens through year-round extracurricular classes and weeklong intensives. The Studio is ICA’s evening and weekend classes in music, dance, and theatre taking place in four eight-week sessions throughout the year. IMPACT is ICA’s weeklong musical theatre intensives offered during summer and winter breaks for middle and high school students that bring top professional artists from Broadway, TV & Film and beyond to work with students on growing their skills.
For more information, visit ilconservatory.org.