Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University Celebrates the 100th Birthday of Billy Strayhorn with the Billy Strayhorn Festival

CHICAGO — The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University announces the programming for The Billy Strayhorn Festival, September 4 – November 21, celebrating the 100th birthday of the late Billy Strayhorn. The Festival begins with the Chicago Jazz Festival, Friday, Sept. 4 in Millennium Park, continues at various jazz clubs and locations throughout Chicago and culminates on the Auditorium Theatre’s landmark stage Saturday, Nov. 21 with Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn. For ticket information on all events, including Lush Life, go to AuditoriumTheatre.org/strayhorn.

“The Auditorium Theatre is proud to curate and present a Festival in honor of what would have been Billy Strayhorn’s 100th birthday. Strayhorn is a major force in the American Jazz canon. Due to the times in which he lived, and his openly gay lifestyle, he did not always receive the recognition he so rightly deserves. This Festival shines the spotlight directly on his work, his life and his numerous achievements. We look forward to wishing Billy Strayhorn a ‘Happy Birthday’ with all of Chicago,” said Auditorium Theatre Executive Director Brett Batterson.

The Lead Foundation Supporter for The Billy Strayhorn Festival is THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST with additional support provided by THE JOYCE FOUNDATION.

Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn

Saturday, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m.

Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Pkwy.

Tickets: $29 - $68 Individual tickets to Lush Life go on sale Friday, Aug. 7 at 10 a.m. AuditoriumTheatre.org or 312.341.2300

The three-month centennial celebration of Billy Strayhorn concludes at the Auditorium Theatre with Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn. Under the musical direction of Bruce Mayhall Rastrelli, this fully staged salute to Strayhorn features Broadway star Darius de Haas and local favorite Joan Curto with Alan Broadbent on piano, the Auditorium’s “Too Hot to Handel” Orchestra, the Joel Hall Dancers and a 30-voice-all-male choir arranged by conductor Bill Chin.

In addition to the music, the Auditorium Theatre will also be naming the inaugural recipient of its “Eighth Wonder Award” during the evening. The “Eighth Wonder Award” is so named because the Auditorium Theatre was proclaimed to be “The Eighth Wonder of the World” when it opened in 1889. The award will be presented annually to a notable individual in the fields of music, theatre, dance or architecture.

About Billy Strayhorn

As a youth in Hillsborough, North Carolina, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Billy Strayhorn received extensive training in music. In December 1938, at the age of 23 years old, he submitted a composition to Duke Ellington, who was so impressed by the young man’s talent that three months later he recorded Strayhorn’s Something to Live For with the composer as the pianist. Strayhorn worked with Ellington for a perfect complement to Ellington’s, that it is now impossible to establish the exact extent of the former’s contribution to Ellington’s oeuvre. Strayhorn collaborated on more than 200 items in Ellington’s repertory, including such standards as Take the “A” Train and Satin Doll. His ballads, including Lush Life, Something to Live For, Day Dream, After All, Passion Flower, Chelsea Bridge, Lotus Blossom, and Blood Count, are harmonically and structurally among the most sophisticated in jazz.

Although Strayhorn and Ellington collaborated on numerous pieces, Strayhorn remained fairly anonymous and was rarely credited or compensated for his work.

Strayhorn was openly gay and actively involved in the civil rights movement. For the musical revue My People he arranged King Fought the Battle of ‘Bam,’ dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. At 53 years old, Strayhorn died from cancer. Although relatively unknown during his career, his complex arrangements and classical elements have inspired generations of jazz musicians.

About the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University

The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, located at 50 E. Congress Pkwy, is an Illinois, not-for-profit organization committed to presenting the finest in international, cultural, community and educational programming to Chicago, and to the continued restoration and preservation of the National Historic Landmark Auditorium Theatre. In September of 2014, the Auditorium Theatre was awarded the inaugural Fifth Star Award by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. On December 9, 2014, the Auditorium Theatre celebrated its 125th Birthday with a proclamation from the City of Chicago declaring it “Auditorium Theatre Day.” For the first time in over 50 years, the NFL Draft returned to Chicago, which took place at the Auditorium Theatre April 30 and May 1.

The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University announces the programming for The Billy Strayhorn Festival, September 2 – November 21, celebrating the 100th birthday of Billy Strayhorn. The Festival begins with the Chicago Jazz Festival, Friday, Sept. 4 in Millennium Park, continues at various jazz clubs and locations throughout Chicago in September and October and culminates at the Auditorium Theatre Saturday, Nov. 21 with Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn, a gala performance with live music and the presentation of the “Eighth Wonder Award.”

For ticket information on all events, including Lush Life, go to AuditoriumTheatre.org/strayhorn.

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The Auditorium Theatre is generously supported by the MacArthur Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council, the Sage Foundation, and the Palmer House Hilton. For more information about programming, volunteer and donor opportunities or theatre tours, call (312) 341-2310 or visit AuditoriumTheatre.org.