Ana Gasteyer, Broadway star and SNL favorite, to headline Auditorium Theatre gala

The Auditorium Theatre announced that Ana Gasteyer, the acclaimed Broadway actress, film and television performer and former Saturday Night Live standout, will headline its 2025 Annual Gala, taking place Thursday, October 9, at the Palmer House Hilton (17 E. Monroe Street) in Chicago.

The celebrated venue will welcome guests beginning at 5:30 p.m. for a lively evening of cocktails, fine dining and an exclusive concert performance by Gasteyer herself. This highly anticipated gala benefits the Auditorium Theatre, one of the city’s most treasured cultural institutions and a National Historic Landmark.

Gasteyer’s headlining performance marks a return to her musical theater roots, where she has shone in powerhouse roles such as Elphaba in Wicked, both in Chicago and on Broadway, and as “Queen Aggravain” in the recent Broadway revival of Once Upon a Mattress. A graduate of Northwestern University and alumna of The Groundlings, Gasteyer gained national acclaim during her six-year run on SNL, where her sharp wit and musical comedy helped define an era of the show.

In addition to the marquee performance, the evening will honor two major figures in Chicago’s arts community. Judie Green will receive the 2025 Adler & Sullivan Award, named for the legendary architects of the Auditorium Theatre, in recognition of her decades-long dedication to the institution. Green has been a central figure at the Auditorium for 28 years, having led departments including Sales, Marketing, Creative Engagement, and Development. Her lasting contributions include the launch of education programs such as Hearts to Art and Admit One, fundraising for capital improvements, and audience-building initiatives that have shaped the modern identity of the theatre. Beyond her work at the Auditorium, Green has served in leadership roles at numerous organizations including Chicago Loop Alliance, See Chicago Dance, Chicago Dance History Project, and The Sarah Siddons Society.

The 2025 Beatrice Spachner Award will be presented to Jorge Pérez, an influential arts leader and tireless cultural advocate. Pérez is the executive director of the globally respected Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater, based at Northeastern Illinois University, now marking its 50th anniversary. His broader impact includes serving as board chair for See Chicago Dance, co-chairing the upcoming Dance USA National 2025 Conference, and participating in national Latinx arts councils in New York and San Francisco. Pérez was recently appointed to the Chicago Cultural Advisory Council, reinforcing his role in shaping the city’s vibrant arts landscape.

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The Gala will be hosted by award-winning WGN TV/Radio political analyst Paul Lisnek, adding his signature charisma as Master of Ceremonies. The event is co-chaired by Mike Aden, Joan Colmar, J. Thomas Hurvis and Helen Hall Melchior, with honorary chairs Joyce Chelberg and Michelle T. Boone, last year’s Adler & Sullivan and Beatrice Spachner honorees. A dynamic host committee of Chicago’s leading arts supporters, including Greg Cameron, Amina J. Dickerson, Alfreda Burke and Rod Dixon, and Pamela Crutchfield, among many others, is backing the event’s success.

Tickets for the 2025 Auditorium Gala are priced at $750 per person, with table sponsorships starting at $7,500. For full details on sponsorships, ticketing, and other ways to support this landmark celebration of Chicago’s artistic community, contact Rebecca Snedeker-Meier at rsnedekermeier@auditoriumtheatre.org or call 312-341-2382. More information can also be found on the Auditorium Theatre website.

As CEO Rich Regan puts it: “Judie’s dedication and leadership have been foundational to the modern-day Auditorium, while Jorge’s decades of work in Spanish dance and cultural advocacy have transformed the landscape of our city. This gala promises to be an unforgettable celebration of their contributions, capped by a rare, intimate performance by the incomparable Ana Gasteyer.”