Auditorium Theatre 2018-19 Issue 3 Alvin Ailey

14 | AUDITORIUM THEATRE 2018-19 | March 6 - March 30, 2019 A vison Young’s story began 40 years ago in Edmonton, Canada, when the company first opened as Graeme Young and Associates. After several mergers and acquisitions, the firm decided to plant their first US flag in Chicago in 2009. Since then, Avison Young has grown to an international, full-service real estate firm, comprising nearly 3,000 real estate professionals in 87 o¡ces across North America, Europe, and Asia. Avison Young played a large role in finding and securing Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s new headquarters in New York, led by Avison Young Principal and Tri-state President Arthur J. Mirante II, who has served on the Ailey Board of Trustees for more than 25 years. The relationship between Ailey and Avison Young made its way to Chicago and the Auditorium Theatre with the help of Mirante and Avison Young Principal and Managing Director of the firm’s Chicago o¡ce (and Ailey super-fan!) Danny Nikitas. Nikitas, a lifelong Chicagoan, remembers giving tours of Chicago during his high school and college years and always made sure the Auditorium was a special stop. Since then, Nikitas has made frequent visits to the Auditorium, and a favorite tradition for him and his family is the annual return of Ailey. “I cannot count the number of times we have seen Revelations , but I know I have cried every time,” Nikitas said. “I will never forget [Ailey Artistic Director] Robert Battle’s answer to the question he was asked about when the troupe will stop performing Revelations [in Chicago] nightly: ‘When they take the Mona Lisa down.’ I know we all hope that never happens!” Nikitas, tasked with finding ways for Avison Young to work with the larger Chicago community and share the company’s values of integrity and diversity, immediately thought of Alvin Ailey’s annual engagements at the Auditorium Theatre. As a result, Avison Young became the generous Opening Night Sponsor of Alvin Ailey at the Auditorium Theatre in 2017, and Nikitas joined the Auditorium Board of Directors several months later. To this day, Avison Young and Nikitas continue to support Ailey’s annual return to the Auditorium. Most recently, the firm joined Ariel Investments and Svoboda Capital Partners as co-sponsors of the Auditorium’s commissioning support for the Ailey company’s new two-act ballet, Lazarus . “Any time an organization like Alvin Ailey introduces a new piece, something exciting opens up for everyone who is privileged enough to witness that breakthrough,” Nikitas said. “Along with Ariel Investments and Svoboda Capital Partners, Avison Young is excited to support the growth of dance. If our support allows more people to see something beautiful, we consider that an honest and good day’s work!” The Auditorium is exceptionally grateful for Avison Young’s co-sponsorship of the Lazarus commission this season and for their continued sponsorship of the Ailey company’s Opening Night performance in Chicago. We are honored to be partnering with a fellow Chicago institution that has such a deep and unwavering commitment to Ailey’s annual visit to the Auditorium. Special thanks to Danny Nikitas and Avison Young Director of Marketing Andrew Fredricks for their contributions to this Spotlight on Philanthropy article. Spotlight on Philanthropy: An Honest and Good Day's Work The Avison Young Chicago team on the company’s annual Day of Giving. NAN MELVILLE