Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of The Biscotto-Miller Fund
Season of Concern, the Chicago-area theatre community’s fundraising and support organization that raises money for and provides financial assistance to Chicagoland theatre workers impacted by illness, injury, or emergency circumstances, proudly celebrates the 40th anniversary of its Biscotto-Miller Fund with a reception at The Goodman Theatre on Tuesday, June 3 at 7:30 PM. The evening will also honor the organizers of Arts Against AIDS, a benefit event that provided funding for the Fund and paved the way for the founding of Season of Concern.
In 1985, a group of Chicago theatre community volunteers created The Biscotto-Miller Fund as a response to the escalating AIDS/HIV epidemic and named it in memory of Tommy Biscotto and J. Pat Miller, two of the community’s first known outspoken victims of AIDS. Forty years later, the Fund continues to provide emergency aid—now for any illness or injury—as part of Season of Concern. The evening will feature stories and songs commemorating both the launching of the Fund as well as the Fund’s first benefit event: Arts Against AIDS.
“Arts Against AIDS was the first event of its kind in Chicago, and one of the first around the U.S.,” recalls Chicago theatre journalist Albert Williams, one of the organizers of the 1985 event. “It was a grassroots response to a health crisis that was cutting a swath through creative arts communities all over the world. Members of the Chicago theatre community – performers, directors, writers, designers, administrators, journalists, and audience members – joined forces to celebrate life, using their talents and their passion to raise money and inspire hope. We are proud that our event sparked the establishment of Season of Concern, which all these years later continues to provide essential help to Chicago theatre practitioners in need.”
The anniversary celebration will feature memories from the Fund’s founding as well as its evolution. Joining Season of Concern’s Board of Directors in planning the event are two members of the original Arts Against AIDS planning committee: Chicago theatre journalist Jonathan Abarbanel, who will also host the evening, and Albert Williams. Performers scheduled to appear include pianist Chuck Larkin (Jersey Boys) accompanying singers Mark David Kaplan (SOC Board Member), Keely Vasquez (Dear Evan Hansen), and Honey West (Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame), with guest speakers to be announced.
The event is sponsored by Broadway in Chicago, The Goodman Theatre, Jim Rinnert & Brent Fisher, and Roche Schulfer & Mary Beth Fisher.
Tickets are $40 and are on sale now at BMF40.eventbrite.com. In addition to the program, attendees will also enjoy a silent auction, light bites, and a cash bar.