Season of Concern, the emergency fund for Chicago theater artists, presents a one-night-only benefit performance of Jerry’s Girls, with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, concepts by Larry Alford, Wayne Cilento, and Jerry Herman, direction by Ken-Matt Martin, and musical direction by Nigel D. Robinson. Jerry’s Girls will be presented on Monday, June 27 at 7:30pm, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue. The event includes a pre-show reception beginning at 6:30pm, and post-show dessert reception.
The all-Chicago cast includes Lydia Burke, Sandra Delgado, Donica Lynn, Mary Robin Roth and Missy Wise.
The Broadway hit Jerry’s Girls features all the best songs for women from such immortal musicals as Mame, Hello Dolly! Milk and Honey, Mack and Mabel, and La Cage Aux Folles. Jerry's Girls was first presented on Broadway at the St. James Theatre in December of 1985. It was directed by Larry Alford and starred Dorothy Loudon, Chita Rivera and Leslie Uggams. The Season of Concern production promises to be a spectacular one-time-only experience!
Tickets, priced at $50 for regular seating and $75 for VIP, are available at seasonofconcern.org. All tickets include reserved seats, a pre-show reception with a silent auction and cash bar in the theatre lobby starting at 6:30pm, as well as a dessert reception with the cast following the performance.
Proceeds will benefit Season of Concern, which provides financial assistance to Chicago area theater practitioners impacted by illness, injury or circumstances that prevent them from working. The vision of Season of Concern is a future where no member of the Chicagoland Theatre community struggles alone. For more information, visit https://seasonofconcern.org/.
Actor and Activist Donica Lynn comments, “Without Season of Concern in my corner, my passion and light may well have been snuffed out. Now they offer financial assistance regardless of the health of the grant recipient. If you have been out of work due to COVID-19, they can help,”
This event is sponsored by: Victory Gardens Theater, Goodman Theatre, Donald Flayton, Rhona and Julian Frazin, Judy Freeman, Richard Goodwin, Karen Hunt, Todd Logan, Robert Markey Randall Persuhn, Roche Schulfer and Mary Beth Fisher, Cathy Taylor Public Relations, Inc., and Darian "Doc" Wheeler. Actors' Equity Association, Entertainment Community Fund, Joseph and Nan Benincasa, Whirled Peas Foundation.
Jerry’s Girls is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals.
About the Artists
Lydia Burke was last seen on the Mercury Theater Chicago stage in Sister Act. Recent Chicago credits include The Sound of Music and Junie B Jones The Musical (Marriott Theatre), Ragtime and Billy Elliot (Music Theater Works), Groundhog Day and Kinky Boots (Paramount Theatre), the Danseuse in Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies (Porchlight Music Theatre), Roald Dahl’s Matilda (Drury Lane Theatre) and Ghost: The Musical (Theatre at the Center).
Sandra Delgado is a Colombian American writer, actor and producer best known for her play La Havana Madrid, which enjoyed sold-out runs at Steppenwolf Theatre and Goodman Theatre, and most recently in a co-production with Teatro Vista and Collaboraction. La Havana Madrid, featured in the New York Times and CNN, received recognition as one of the best plays of 2017 by New City Chicago and Time Out Chicago, and the Time Out Audience Award for Best New Work, as well as an Alliance of Latinx Theatre Artists (ALTA) nominee for the Maria Irene Fornes New Play Award and ALTA Award winner for Best Production.
Donica Lynn is a mother, wife, grandmother, three-time brain tumor survivor, advocate for anyone who may feel unheard, underrated, or left behind, which is what draws her to being a Board Member of Season of Concern. Named Chicago Tribune's Person of the Year in Theatre, Donica has amassed multiple award nominations including winning two Joseph Jefferson Awards. This multi-hyphenated artist has been seen on stage at The Goodman Theater, Porchlight Music Theatre, Mercury Theater, Marriott, Drury Lane Oak Brook, Victory Gardens, Court Theatre just to name a few. Donica held audiences captivated with her acting and vocal abilities alongside Tony nominee Felicia P. Fields and Tony, Grammy and Emmy winner Andre De Shields
Mary Robin Roth recently performed the role of Ursula Widdington in the North American premiere drama Ladies in Lavender at MBT in Michigan where she also has performed in The Spitfire Grill (Hannah), Arsenic and Old Lace (Abby) and Nunsense and Nunsense 2 (Sr. Robert Anne). Mason Street Warehouse: Cabaret (Fraulein Schneider), The Full Monty (Jeannette), Chicago (Mama Morton). Chicago credits: Hello, Dolly! (Dolly), Gypsy (Mama Rose), Mame (Mame and Vera), Shear Madness (Mrs. Shubert), Sister Act (Sr. Mary Lazarus) and Follies (Carlotta) where she was honored with a Jeff and After Dark Award. Tours: Evita, Sunset Blvd. Broadway: The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Senator Joe.
Missy Wise recent credits include Kinky Boots (Paramount Theater) Bright Star (Boho Theater Ensemble) Always...Patsy Cline (Firebrand Theater) Million Dollar Quartet (Clarence Brown Theater) Legally Blonde (Paramount Theatre) Sweeney Todd (Theo Ubique) Bonnie & Clyde (Kokandy Productions) Big Fish (BigNoise Theater), and 24 Words (Steppenwolf LookOut). Missy was the 2016 Winner of the NATS National Musical Theater Competition & 2020 Bronze Medalist of the American Traditions Competition. Missy is the proud recipient of two Joseph Jefferson Awards for her work in Bonnie & Clyde and Bright Star.
FACT SHEET
Title: JERRY’S GIRLS!
Written by: Jerry Herman
Concepts by: Larry Alford, Wayne Cilento, Jerry Herman
Directed by: Ken-Matt Martin
Music Direction by: Nigel D. Robinson
Featuring: Lydia Burke, Sandra Delgado, Donica Lynn, Mary Robin Roth, Missy Wise
Date: Monday, June 27, 2022
- 6:30pm Lobby opens with cash bar
- 7:30pm Performance in the Začek-McVay Theatre
- Post show reception in the lobby to follow
Location: Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL 60614
Tickets: seasonofconcern.org; reserved seating $50, reserved V.I.P. seating $75
COVID-19 Attendance Policy
All audience members must show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination, along with a matching, valid photo ID to be admitted to the theater. “Fully vaccinated” means that the performance date must be at least 14 days after receiving the second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine.
Masks are required at all times in the theater itself and when not eating or drinking in the concession bar and lobby.
Victory Gardens is staying up-to-date on all city and state guidelines for reopening, and have made numerous improvements to their facilities and procedures. These include upgraded HVAC filters with increased fresh air flow throughout the building and full sanitization of the theater between every performance
Cancellation Policy
In case of cancellation, all tickets will be converted to fully tax-deductible donations to Season of Concern.
About Season of Concern
Founded in 1987, Season of Concern Chicago is dedicated to providing financial assistance to Chicagoland theater practitioners, both Equity and Non-Equity, impacted by illness, injury or circumstance that prevents them from working. We provide short-term emergency financial assistance to theater practitioners through our own Biscotto-Miller Fund and Malcolm Ewen Fund.
Originally formed to assist those afflicted with AIDS-related illnesses, Season of Concern continues to support over 25 Chicago-based direct care HIV/AIDS organizations and has expanded its mission and support to meet the greater health needs of the Chicagoland theater community. Season of Concern relies on fundraising and donations to complete its mission. To date, Season of Concern has distributed more than $3 million to those in need.