Collaboraction Theatre Company did what it does best - bring people together to cultivate knowledge, empathy, dialogue, and action - at its sold out 28th Utopian Ball gala benefit, Saturday, November 2 at Venue One in West Town.
Over 200 of Collaboraction’s lead supporters enjoyed an unforgettable evening filled with impactful conversations, new connections, and a united drive to uplift the world through art and social change.
(from left) Collaboraction Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director Beverly Dines, Artistic Director and Chief Programming Officer Anthony Moseley, artist Lonnie Edwards standing with the original piece of art he donated to help raise funds, and Collaboraction’s new Executive Director Darlene Jackson at Collaboraction’s 28th Utopian Ball. Credit Daveed Holmes
Collaboraction's gala also raised more than $200,000 in support of the company's new home, a "House of Belonging," currently in development at the Kimball Arts Center in Humboldt Park.
Collaboraction’s new home will include a 99-seat flexible studio theater and a 50-seat cabaret with a cafe/bar, ready to serve as a new community hub presenting live theater, spoken word, music, dance, films, workshops, youth programming and special events.
Collaboraction Theatre Company’s new leadership team (from left) Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director Beverly Dines, Artistic Director and Chief Programming Officer Anthony Moseley, and Executive Director and CEO Darlene Jackson made their debut together on stage at the company’s 28th Utopian Ball. Credit Daveed Holmes
Chicago musician Nicholas Tremulis performed at Collaboraction’s 28th Utopian Ball, November 2 at Venue One in West Town. Credit Daveed Holmes
Eva Saha (front) encouraged high bids at Collaboraction’s 28th Utopian Ball, under the approving gaze of the company’s new leadership team (behind,from left): Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director Beverly Dines, Artistic Director and Chief Programming Officer Anthony Moseley, and Executive Director and CEO Darlene Jackson. Credit Daveed Holmes
Collaboraction Executive Director Darlene Jackson with Golden Globe-winning actress Regina Taylor at Collaboraction’s 28th Utopian Ball, November 2 at Venue One in West Town. Credit Daveed Holmes
Collaboraction Board Chair Pat Merryweather-Arges greeted more than 200 of the company’s supporters at Collaboraction’s 28th Utopian Ball, November 2 at Venue One in West Town. Credit Daveed Holmes
Gala Co-Chairs Elsa Hiltner (right) and Carolyn Aberman spoke to their deep connections to Collaboraction before kicking off the awards portion of the evening at Collaboraction’s 28th Utopian Ball. Credit Daveed Holmes
Legendary Chicago Hip Hop artist and Utopian Ball emcee Pinqy Ring (left) joined by Linda Sol on stage at the company’s annual gala, November 2nd at Venue One in West Town. Credit Daveed Holmes
Collaboraction supporters Daveed Ricci and Laura Kofoid at the company’s 28th Utopian Ball, November 2 at Venue One in West Town. Credit Daveed Holmes
Montiara, a performer with Collaboraction’s Youth Ensemble, The Light, wowed an audience of more than 200 supporters at Collaboraction’s 28th Utopian Ball with a live performance of her original song about climate change. Credit Daveed Holmes
Longtime Collaboration Theatre supporter Janice Feinberg of The Joseph and Bessie Feinberg Foundation at the company’s 28th Utopian Ball, November 2 at Venue One. Credit Daveed Holmes
Collaboraction Theatre Company did what it does best - bring more than 200 people together to cultivate knowledge, empathy, dialogue, and action - while raising over $200,000 at the company’s 28th Utopian Ball, November 2 at Venue One. Credit Daveed Holmes
Musician Nicholas Tremulis, Collaboraction Executive Director and CEO Darlene Jackson and Collaboraction Artistic Director Anthony Moseley at the company’s 28th Utopian Ball, November 2 at Venue One. Credit Daveed Holmes
About Collaboraction
Collaboraction is a 28-year-old, ethno-diverse non-profit arts organization dedicated to changing the map and removing barriers in the live theater industry. The company uses its proprietary KEDA methodology - Knowledge, Empathy, Dialogue and Action - across all platforms, including live theater, film, radio and online interactive programs, to spark changes in attitudes and behavior that manifest social change.
In September, Collaboraction announced a new executive leadership team. Darlene Jackson, Collaboraction’s Board President since 2020, has joined the company full-time as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director. Jackson, most recently a Creative Industry Liaison at Columbia College Chicago, is a respected cultural programs producer, proven business leader and DEI expert, also known internationally as DJ Lady D. Beverly Dines, who comes to Collaboraction after serving as Senior Director of Business Operations and People at Aeropay, was named Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director. Anthony Moseley, one of the original founders of Collaboraction in 1996, and Artistic Director since 1999, is now Chief Programming Officer and Artistic Director.
To learn more, visit collaboraction.org, tune into Collaboraction Radio live every Saturday at 4 p.m. on WCPT AM 820, subscribe to the Collaboraction Radio podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, or follow Collaboraction on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.
Collaboraction’s new leadership team (from left): Darlene Jackson, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director; Beverly Dines, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director; and Anthony Moseley, Chief Programming Officer and Artistic Director
Press play for a first look at Collaboraction's plans for its new House of Belonging
