The play's the thing, but Steppenwolf knows how to par-tay. Joan Allen hosted last year's black-tie soiree, the silent auction featured dinner with John Malkovich, and the crowd rocked to music by Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band.
Due to the recession, Gala 2009 will be more low-key, with guests hobnobbing with VIPs at a family-style dinner. The menu features comfort foods with an upscale twist like chili-glazed short ribs and creamy, stone-ground cheese grits. The April 18 event will begin in the theater, 1650 N. Halsted, spill backstage, then overflow into a swanky custom tent.
The change suits the ensemble.
"We're not a black-tie, seven-different-kinds-of-forks organization," special events manager Tara Gillespie said. "We wanted something a little more homey."
That said, Sinise is taking a break from "CSI: NY" for an encore performance, and the usual star-studded gift packages are on the block. Among the offerings:
*A girly weekend with Oscar nominee Allen ("The Contender") in New York. The deal includes lunch, a private viewing of a top designer's collection, a trip to a spa, airfare and hotel.
* An L.A. weekend on the set of HBO's "Entourage" with Gary Cole (agent Andrew Klein).
* Dinner with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tracy Letts and the Tony-winning cast of "August: Osage County" at Chef Art Smith's Table Fifty-Two restaurant.
* Dinner at the home of Chef Rick Bayless, with troupe founders Sinise, Terry Kinney and Jeff Perry, and artistic director Martha Lavey.
* A visit with Kathryn Erbe (Detective Alexandra Eames) on the set of "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" in New York.
"A Celebration of a Season of the Imagination," which marks Steppenwolf's 33rd season, includes cocktails and a performance of "The Tempest." Attendance is limited to 700 well-heeled patrons. Tickets are $1,000.
Freebie of the week
Trained instructors offer free salsa lessons the first and third Tuesday of each month at Nacional 27. Beginners, show up at 6 p.m. at the River North club, home of mojitos and passionfruit cocktails. The vets strut their stuff at 7 p.m.
Grapevine
Spotted: Chicago Bear Matt Forte dining at Park 52 ... Tickets go on sale at Monday for U2's second show (Sept. 13) at Soldier Field ... Happy 50th birthday to the great Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, leaping and bounding through Sunday at the Auditorium Theater ... WTTW-Channel 11 is wooing some younger acts for "Soundstage" these days. Country-music duo Sugarland (Jennifer Nettlesand Kristian Bush) taped an episode Wednesday. Coming up: Indie-rockers Death Cab for Cutie (April 16), singer Robin Thicke (April 28) and Chicago own's Fall Out Boy (May 11) ... Butt-kicking actress Lucy Liu ("Charlie's Angels") headlines UNICEF's second-annual Message of Hope gala on Saturday at the InterCotinental Chicago.
