CONTACT: Denise Schneider/Kiana Harris/Ramsey Carey FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 312.443.5151 or [email protected] September 9, 2016 IMAGERY: GoodmanTheatre.org/PressRoom
CIVIC LEADER JOAN CLIFFORD AND HER HUSBAND, LEADING CHICAGO ATTORNEY ROBERT CLIFFORD, ARE HONORED WITH A STAR ON GOODMAN THEATRE’S “WALKWAY OF STARS”
***JOAN CLIFFORD BEGINS HER THIRD YEAR AS BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR, JOINED BY NEW LEADERS WOMEN’S BOARD PRESIDENT CYNTHIA K. SCHOLL AND SCENEMAKERS BOARD PRESIDENT JUSTIN A. KULOVSEK***
(Chicago, IL) Goodman Theatre proudly honors Joan and Robert Clifford with a star on its “Walkway of Stars” as Joan begins her third year leading the 73-member Board of Trustees. A Chicago native and former educator, Clifford has served Chicago’s oldest and largest not-for-profit theater for more than a decade, including a term as Women’s Board President prior to becoming Chair in 2014. Numerous achievements during her leadership include the May 2016 opening of the $15 million Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement—“the Alice”—the next phase in the Goodman’s decades-long commitment to educating Chicago youth and promoting lifelong learning for audiences of all ages. Clifford previously completed two major fundraising efforts—the “Engaging Communities, Expanding Minds” campaign for the Alice and the $15 million “Fund for Excellence” campaign for the future—and achieved record-breaking annual fundraising during the past two seasons as Board Chair.
Speaking at the star unveiling ceremony last week, Goodman Theatre leadership lauded the Cliffords, who were surrounded by Goodman Trustees, Women’s Board members and family—including daughters Erin Clifford, Tracy Clifford with her husband, Chris Esbrook (son-in-law).
“Joan and Bob Clifford’s passion for the Goodman and level of involvement is special. As Chair, Joan’s extraordinary leadership and dedication has elevated us as an essential artistic and cultural institution—and helped us create new and exciting work not otherwise possible,” said Artistic Director Robert Falls. “Their intelligence, good humor and unabashed love for the theater is apparent in everything they do. For this, and for their incredible continued financial support of our productions and programs, we are enormously grateful.”
Added Executive Director Roche Schulfer, “It’s an exciting opportunity to honor two truly wonderful people who have made an indelible impact on the Goodman and the quality of life in our city. In addition to opening the Alice, the many highlights during Joan’s leadership include the city wide August Wilson Celebration; the Goodman’s 90th anniversary season; an unprecedented gift from the Roy Cockrum Foundation for 2666; and the most successful musical in Goodman’s history, War Paint. On behalf of everyone at the Goodman, we thank and congratulate them.”
Joining Clifford are two new leaders of the Goodman’s other boards: Cynthia Klem Scholl is President of the 46-member Women’s Board and Justin A. Kulovsek is President of the 40-member Scenemakers Board of young professionals.
Scholl, a Goodman Subscriber of nearly three decades who marks 10 years of service to the Goodman as a Women’s Board member (including executive positions and as chair of numerous special events), is its new President. In addition to her commitment to the Goodman, she serves on the Executive Board of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago; the Executive Committee of the Women’s Board of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association; and is a member of the University of Chicago Women’s Board. This season marks the 25th year in which Scholl, together with her husband Mike and their four children, will see the Goodman’s annual production of A Christmas Carol—a family tradition.
Kulovsek becomes Scenemakers Board President, after six years of service on the young professionals board—most recently as its treasurer. Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Nesek Digital, a boutique firm specializing in digital strategy and content development, Kulovsek spent five years at Nielsen as a Six Sigma Black Belt in Media and Communications. His award-winning work as a video producer and editor has been featured at Sundance Film Festival and the Chicago International Film Festival, and was recently named one of Chicago's Next Gen Philanhropists (SocialLifeChicago.com).
Joan Clifford Honored on Goodman Theatre’s “Walkway of Stars,” Begins Third Year as Chair of Board of Trustees New Leadership Includes Women’s Board President Cynthia K. Scholl and Scenemakers Board President Justin A. Kulovsek
The leadership is in place for the Goodman’s new 2016/2017 Season, which begins with Mary Zimmerman’s major revival of Leonard Bernstein’s musical Wonderful Town (September 10 – October 16). A free week-long “Leonard Bernstein Celebration” (September 27 – October 1) accompanies the major revival; events celebrating the famed composer include film screenings (On the Town, On the Waterfront and West Side Story); a “Conga! Swing!” dance class; and concerts spotlighting Chicagoland performers and youth participants from the summer Musical Theater Intensive.
About the Boards
The governing board of Goodman Theatre, the Board of Trustees advocates the theater’s artistic vision and institutional eminence; provides general oversight of the theater’s operations; approves the annual operating budget; and ensures the long-term financial health of the organization through fundraising and personal financial support. Trustees engage as audience members, advocates, donors and ambassadors for the theater’s productions and programs. The Women’s Board, formed in 1978 to expand the community and financial base of the then newly-independent Goodman Theatre, has raised over $34 million, sponsored 36 Goodman productions and has strived to engage audiences in deeper exploration of the work on stage. Monies raised from events—such as the “Fame, Fantasy, Food, Adventure Auction” and the spring black tie Gala—support the Goodman’s Education and Community Engagement programs. Now in its 14th year, the Scenemakers Board is a young professionals auxiliary board that supports the theater’s mission through fundraising, audience development and advocacy—with a particular focus on the Goodman’s New Work initiative and education and community engagement. Fundraising outcomes for the Scene Soiree, their signature event, have tripled since its inception in 2012.
About Goodman Theatre
Called America’s “Best Regional Theatre” by Time magazine, Goodman Theatre has won international recognition for its artists, productions and programs, and is a major cultural, educational and economic pillar in Chicago. Founded in 1925 by William O. Goodman and his family in honor of their son Kenneth (an important figure in Chicago’s cultural renaissance in the early 1900s), the Goodman family’s legacy lives on through the continued work and dedication of Kenneth’s family, including Albert Ivar Goodman, who with late his mother, Edith-Marie Appleton, contributed the necessary funds for the creation of the new Goodman center in 2000. The Goodman has garnered hundreds of awards for artistic achievement and community engagement, including: two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards (including “Outstanding Regional Theatre” in 1992), nearly 160 Joseph Jefferson Awards and more. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, the Goodman’s artistic priorities include new plays (more than 150 world or American premieres in the past 30 years), reimagined classics (including Falls’ nationally and internationally celebrated productions of Death of a Salesman, Long Day’s Journey into Night, King Lear and The Iceman Cometh, many in collaboration with actor Brian Dennehy), culturally specific work, musical theater (28 major productions in 20 years, including 10 world premieres) and international collaborations. Diversity and inclusion have been primary cornerstones of the Goodman’s mission for 30 years; over the past decade, 68% of the Goodman’s 35 world premieres were authored by women and/or playwrights of color, and the Goodman was the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” Each year, the Goodman’s numerous education and community engagement programs—including the innovative Student Subscription Series, now in its 30th year—serve thousands of students, teachers, life-long learners and special constituencies. In addition, for nearly four decades the annual holiday tradition of A Christmas Carol has led to the creation of a new generation of theatergoers in Chicago.
Goodman Theatre’s leadership includes the distinguished members of the Artistic Collective: Brian Dennehy, Rebecca Gilman, Henry Godinez, Dael Orlandersmith, Steve Scott, Chuck Smith, Regina Taylor, Henry Wishcamper and Mary Zimmerman. Joan Clifford is Chair of Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees, Cynthia Klem Scholl is Women’s Board President and Justin A. Kulovsek is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals.
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