It is with great sadness that the Auditorium Theatre shares that Edward S. Weil, Jr., an Auditorium Theatre Lifetime Trustee, passed away on Thursday, February 11, 2021.
The great-grandson of Auditorium Theatre's famed architect Dankmar Adler, Weil was the longest serving Board Member of the theatre's Board of Directors. He was past Chair and Vice-Chair of the Auditorium Theatre Council Board, and past Chairman of the Auditorium Theatre Facilities Committee. He was the first recipient of the theatre's Adler and Sullivan Award in 2016 and was named a Lifetime Trustee in 2019.
"Ed was a tour-de-force. His decades of dedication to the Auditorium were unprecedented," said Auditorium Theatre CEO Rich Regan. "Ed's kindness, passion, insight, and love for the Auditorium will truly be missed."
Edward “Ed” Weil is a proud descendant of architect Dankmar Adler (1844-1900), helmsman of the famous architectural firm Adler and Sullivan, which in 1889 unveiled the Auditorium Building to international acclaim. In designing the world's first multiuse building, which then included offices, a hotel, and the theatre, the architects pushed the limits of modern technology, with Dankmar Adler engineering its structural and acoustic innovations and Louis Sullivan shaping its artistic and ornamental brilliance.
In the 1980s, while Ed Weil was the CEO of Power Conversion Products, LLC, Beatrice Spachner - who was instrumental in the restoration and reopening of the theatre in 1967 - recruited him to join the Auditorium Theatre Council. During his time on the Auditorium Theatre Council and on the Board of Directors of the Auditorium Theatre, Ed and his fellow stewards successfully navigated the theatre through many evolutions: From ushering in the Broadway era with longstanding runs of Les Misréables, Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, and Showboat to a major restoration in 1999 to championing the Auditorium today as the presenter of world-class music, dance, and theatrical programming. Weil was also a committed supporter of the Auditorium's Auxiliary Board and often sponsored and attended The Devil's Ball, their annual fundraiser.
One of his favorite productions at the Auditorium Theatre was his own wedding reception! Weil and his bride Dia celebrated their nuptials in this National Historic Landmark on February 21, 1987.
When Ed Weil received the Adler and Sullivan Award in 2016 he shared these words:
“Embrace your adversaries, be gracious in all your wins and losses, and be ready to learn an awful lot of history. There is nothing more rewarding than to be among a group of people who share a passion and a commitment. And, know that you are doing something great for your city.”
Please click here for Mr. Weil's obituary.
Dia and Ed Weil (front) with 2016 Fall Gala Co-Chairs
About The Auditorium Theatre
The Auditorium Theatre, located at 50 E Ida B Wells Dr at Roosevelt University in Chicago, is an Illinois, not-for-profit organization committed to presenting the finest in international, cultural, community, and educational programming to all of Chicago and beyond as The Theatre for the People.The organization also is committed to the continued restoration and preservation of the National Historic Landmark, and was recognized by the League of Historic American Theatres as the Outstanding Historic Theatre for 2019 for its programming, restoration, and community engagement.
For more information visit AuditoriumTheatre.org.
Photo of Ed Weil in 2019 with Auditorium Theatre Vice Chairman Tom Baryl and Chairman Ann Nash by Bob Carl. Photo of Dia and Ed Weil with 2016 Gala Co-Chairs by Bob Carl. Photo of Auditorium Theatre courtesy of Chicago Magazine by Alex Garcia.