Although the Goodman Theatre may never outsell the Cubs, their cultural significance to this city is not to be ignored. What would Chicago be without its diverse theater community? Thirty years ago when HIV/AIDS was first striking in the United States, the theater world was particularly hard-hit. Several organizations were formed to fight back against AIDS. Season of Concern is Chicago's answer for people in the theater community living with HIV/AIDS. The organization has evolved from helping just those with HIV/AIDS to those who are suffering from catastrophic illness or injury.
In the early 1980s the Chicago theater community lost two of its own to AIDS complications: Tom Biscotto and J. Pat Miller. Out of this tragedy The Biscotto-Miller fund was born. The Biscotto-Miller fund began as a fundraising effort by the friends of Tom Biscotto and J. Pat Miller to create a cash fund to help HIV/AIDS patients in need.
Around the same time a new organization got its start: Season of Concern. Its initial goal was similar to that of the Make-A-Wish foundation in that it helped actors dying of AIDS accomplish their last wishes. In early 1988 the two organizations merged into one and began working to raise money for direct care of actors and crew living with HIV/AIDS in Chicago and the suburbs. Today, the organizations are still their own entities but function a little differently. The Biscotto-Miller fund is the only private grant distributed by the Season of Concern organization to those who need it immediately. The grants are given all year long on a case by case basis to help support the direct needs of patients who struggle to pay for rent, utilities, groceries, medications and other necessities. In 2010, the Biscotto-Miller grants distributed more than $16,000 to individuals of the theater community.
Although Season of Concern only supports Chicago residents, it is similar to Broadway's Equity Fights AIDS which has its actors jingling red buckets at patrons each night following performances during the holiday season. Season of Concern works all year long and generally only solicits money from patrons one night per run of a show, as a courtesy to the patrons who may not be able to afford a donation. Chicago boasts a big variety of little theaters and companies, which works to Season of Concern's advantage in that they are able to raise a large sum of money in little bits at a time. When larger companies like Broadway in Chicago sponsor them ( even if only for one night ) the result is a huge boost in funding. Through the diversity of theater types in the city, Season of Concern is able to evenly distribute fundraising throughout the fiscal year. At the end of the year, Season of Concern adds up their earnings and redirects that money into AIDS-related services.
In addition to helping individual patients with their needs, Season of Concern is partnered with several other charity groups in Chicago. The downtown headquarters for Season of Concern is a shared office space with The Actors Fund, a national organization designed to help anyone in the entertainment industry in need. Season of Concern donates a large chunk of money at the end of each fundraising year to the 130-year-old Actors Fund. This past year alone Season of Concern was able to donate $25,000. This is not the only organization being helped out by Season of Concern. In 2010, they donated $5,000 to the AIDS Legal Council, an important legal group designed to protect the rights of Chicagoans living with HIV/AIDS. Another beneficiary of a $5,000 grant was Vital Bridges, a Chicago HIV/AIDS direct-care organization. Chicago Women's AIDS Project also received a $5,000 grant to keep up in their effort to provide support and empowerment to Chicago women living with HIV/AIDS. Season of Concern also provided grants in 2010 for Bonaventure House Chicago, C.A.L.O.R, Edgealliance, Interfaith and the Test Positive Aware Network.
Season of Concern raises money for its various groups through more than just audience polls during performance runs. Some individuals host cabaret shows that benefit Season of Concern, and the organization's website provides donors with the option to send an e-card to their favorite Chicago actor for either opening night, closing night or to congratulate an award nomination or win. The e-card is an email greeting card that lets the actor know that a donation to Season of Concern has been made in their honor. The Chicago AIDS Walk is another way the Season of Concern administrative team raises awareness and money for those living with HIV/AIDS. Stephen Rader, the executive director of Season of Concern said, "the goal of Season of Concern's fundraising is to always have enough dispensable cash on hand to help out someone who needs it now."
With the Non-Equity Joseph Jefferson Awards right around the corner, spring is an exciting season for Chicago's theater community. Not only is this award season a time to recognize some of the city's best artists, but also a time to recognize those who help the community fight the effects of HIV/AIDS. Season of Concern hosts an annual ceremony for recipients of their Larry Sloan Awards. Larry Sloan was the first executive director of Season of Concern, and he passed away in 1995 due to AIDS complications. The awards are given in his honor to those who have demonstrated leadership in the community's fight against HIV/AIDS. Past winners include Rondi Reed who appeared in the original production of August: Osage County at the Steppenwolf Theatre, and William Peterson of TVs CSI. This year's winners are Barry Taylor for the Heritage Award, Karen Bronson for the Advocate Award and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago for the Partnership Award.
This May marks the fourth year of the Larry Sloan Awards, and Season of Concern has something special planned to combine fundraising, recognition and fun for its prestigious award. Season of Concern is replicating an idea used in an Actors Fund event in New York City by securing rights from the Actors Fund and Twentieth Century Fox to host a reading of the classic script All About Eve. This Monday, May 23, event will feature some of Chicago's most notable actors, including Hollis Resnik, a Chicago star who regularly appears at the Goodman and Court Theatre. Other notable performers are Larry Yando, Heidi Kettenring, Peggy Roeder and James Vincent Meredith. The Goodman is also lending their Associate Producer Steve Scott to direct. The casting of this one-night only show makes a unique statement about diversity in Chicago theater as this multicultural cast is an obvious difference from the original film.
"This event shows the web of support in the Chicago theater community," said co-producer Amy Matheny. "It's amazing that all these actors are giving us their valuable time, it shows how much this organization means to them."
There will be tables and drink service during the performance and tickets are priced at $45 or two for $80. The All About Eve benefit reading will take place on Monday, May 23 at 7 p.m. followed by the 4th Annual Larry Sloan Awards. The show is sponsored by the Windy City Media Group and hosted by The Mayne Stage Theatre at 1328 W. Morse. Tickets are available through the Season of Concern website: www.seasonofconcern.org .
