2008 Asian Giving Circle GRANT AWARD. On Wednesday, May 21, 2008, Silk Road Theatre Project was honored by Asian Giving Circle at the organization’s Fifth Annual Grant Award Ceremony held at Phoenix Restaurant in Chinatown. Asian Giving Circle was created to highlight challenges facing the Asian American community and encourage Asian Americans to support not-for-profit organizations addressing those challenges. Through its donor advised fund at The Chicago Community Trust, the circle provides an opportunity to contribute collectively to organizations that elevate and advance Chicagoland’s Asian American communities.
Silk Road Theatre Project was awarded a $7000.00 Fundraising and Capacity Building Grant. The grant was earmarked to support Silk Road’s strategic fundraising and capacity building efforts as the company aims to become a nationally recognized, permanent artistic institution in Chicago.
2008 Asian Giving Circle Grant Award Recipients: Chinese American Service League, Hamdard Center for Health and Human Services, Japanese American Service Committee, and Silk Road Theatre Project.
2008 Broadway In Chicago EMERGING THEATER AWARD. On March 31, 2008, at the League of Chicago Theatres Showtime Gala held at The Historic Auditorium Theatre, Broadway in Chicago honored Silk Road Theatre Project with its Emerging Theater Award. The award provides a $5,000.00 cash gift and a marketing support package that includes a full page ad in a Friday and Sunday edition of the Chicago Tribune. To be eligible for the award, a company must be a member of the League of Chicago Theatres, have been in existence for at least three and no longer than ten years, and have demonstrated artistic excellence and fiscal responsibility in business practices.
Nominations for the award were accepted in late 2007. A nominating committee comprised of industry professionals, educators and League of Chicago Theatres board members reviewed the nominations and selected five finalists. The finalists were presented before the entire League membership for a vote and Silk Road Theatre Project received a majority vote from the membership.
“We look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of the Silk Road Theatre Project,” said Eileen LaCario, Vice President of Broadway In Chicago and Chair of the League of Chicago Theatre’s Foundation. “We are thrilled to be working with a neighbor in Chicago’s Downtown Theater District, and a company that has distinguished themselves with their cross cultural message. This diversity is indicative of all that makes Chicago’s theater community the envy of the country.”
2008 City of Chicago HUMAN RELATIONS AWARD. On January 29, 2008, at the 61st Annual Human Relations Awards Presentation held at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel, the Chicago Commission on Human Relations honored Silk Road Theatre Project with its Human Relations Award. The award is presented annually to individuals and organizations making outstanding contributions to the improvement of human relations in the City of Chicago. Silk Road was commended for “outstanding achievements in promoting cross-cultural interactions” and “its efforts in using the theatre as a means of fighting discrimination and prejudice.”
“The 2008 Human Relations Awardees exemplify the spirit of inclusion, respect for all, and the power of diversity,” said Mayor Richard M. Daley. “The City of Chicago is proud to have this outstanding group of individuals and organizations as our own and we applaud their success.” The other awardees were: Carrie von Sagun-Steiner, Chicago Police Officer; Chinese American Service League; Clarence N. Wood, President/CEO Jane Addams Hull House Association; and Harry Porterfield, Journalist and ABC 7 Chicago News Reporter.
2007 Chicago Community Trust’s LESTER AND HOPE ABELSON FUND FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS – THE “HOPIE” On September 28, 2007, at a pre-opening ceremony held in Pierce Hall at The Historic Chicago Temple Building, the Chicago Community Trust honored Silk Road Theatre Project with its inaugural “Hopie” Award. The Lester and Hope Abelson Fund for the Performing Arts honors the legacy of Hope Abelson, an arts icon who is sorely-missed, particularly in the Chicago theatre community.
Marking the first anniversary of Hope’s death, the inaugural awards were presented to two emerging theatre companies that exemplify the innovation, creativity and inspiration that Hope intended: Congo Square Theatre Company and Silk Road Theatre Project.
2007 Columbia College Chicago’s ARTS ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD On September 26, 2007, at a ceremony held at the Union League Club of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago’s School of Fine & Performing Arts honored Silk Road Theatre Project with its Arts Entrepreneurship Award. The program awards both for-profit and not-for-profit arts organizations and/or individuals that have demonstrated exceptional entrepreneurial skills, innovation, willingness to take risks, leadership and management.
Arts entrepreneurs recognize and take advantage of opportunities that broaden the cultural, educational and entertainment values of the arts. Entrepreneurship in the arts includes, but is not confined to, such activities as the creation of successful new arts organizations, developing new ventures within existing arts organizations, the creative development of new or expanded facilities, as well as the development and expansion of the prospective audiences.
Golden Child by David Henry Hwang | Directed by Stuart Carden
Winner of
Gay Chicago Magazine's
2007 After Dark Award forOVERALL TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT | Rebecca A. Barrett, lighting design; Carol J. Blanchard, costume design; Lee Keenan, scenic design; D. Christopher Krause, technical director; Daniel Pellant, props design; and Robert Steel, sound design and original music.
Caravaggio by Richard Vetere | Directed by Dale Heinen
Winner of
Gay Chicago Magazine's
2007 After Dark Award forOUTSTANDING ORIGINAL MUSIC | Robert Steel
and OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DESIGN | Lee Keenan
2007 Asian American Institute’s MILESTONE MAKERS AWARD On April 26, 2007, at a ceremony held at the Mid-America Club of Chicago, the Asian American Institute honored Silk Road Theatre Project with its Milestone Makers Award, recognizing the organization’s contributions to the Asian American community and the Asian American arts.
Milestone Makers are distinguished for combating stereotypes of Asians and Asian Americans, and for advancing the overall profile of Asian Pacific communities.
2006 Changing Worlds IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE CONTRIBUTIONS AWARD On November 20, 2006, at a ceremony held at Hot House, Changing Worlds honored Silk Road Theatre Project’s Founding Executive Director Malik Gillani. Gillani received the Immigrant & Refugee Contributions Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Arts and was recognized for “expanding representation of immigrant communities on Chicago's stages.”
Changing Worlds is an educational arts nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster inclusive communities through oral history, writing and art programs that improve student learning, affirm identity, and enhance cross-cultural understanding.
Back of the Throat by Yussef El Guindi | Directed by Stuart Carden
Winner of
Gay Chicago Magazine's
2006 After Dark Award forOUTSTANDING PRODUCTION
10 Acrobats in an Amazing Leap of Faith by Yussef El Guindi | Directed by Stuart Carden
Winner of
Gay Chicago Magazine's
2006 After Dark Award forOUTSTANDING NEW WORK | Yussef El Guindi
and OUTSTANDING SOUND DESIGN | Robert Steel
Precious Stones by Jamil Khoury | Directed by Michael Najjar
Winner of
Gay Chicago Magazine's
2003 After Dark Award forOUTSTANDING NEW WORK | Jamil Khoury
