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AUDITORIUM THEATRE 2018-19
| September 26 - November 16, 2018
The Auditorium Theatre is
fortunate to have benefited
from the commitment of many
wonderful friends in our 129-
year history, but few are as
generous, or as dedicated, as
our former Chairman of the
Board, Mel Katten.
After an illustrious academic
career that included receiving
his bachelor’s degree from
the University of Illinois
in Champaign-Urbana and
his Juris Doctor from John
Marshall Law School, Mel
helped found Katten Muchin
Rosenman LLP, a national
law firm specializing in trust
planning, corporate mergers
and acquisitions, and real estate
and business ventures, as well
as federal tax controversies
and criminal investigations.
For many years, Mel enjoyed
considerable personal and
professional success, and he
went on to use his professional
accomplishments to help
build a better world through
philanthropy.
As Chairman of the Board of
Directors for the Auditorium
Theatre from 2002-2015, Mel
directed a group of dedicated
individuals who remain at
the front of Chicago's artistic
and cultural community. Under
Mel's continued guidance as
Chair Emeritus, the Board
has grown to include some of
Chicago's most esteemed and
altruistic citizens, all of whom
collaborate to govern and
guide this iconic landmark in
all of its endeavors.
Highlights of Mel’s tenure
as Chairman include the co-
production of the epic opera
Margaret Garner
, the creation
of theone-of-a-kindMilesDavis
Festival, and the star-studded
125
th
Anniversary Celebration
Season. The theatre's staff also
expanded its community
outreach programming and
launched its signature summer
camp for young people who
have experienced the death of
a parent, Hearts to Art, under
Mel's leadership.
With Mel at the helm of the
Board of Directors, the theatre
also installed its first elevator,
constructed new accessible
restrooms, and addedmore box
seats. A new rehearsal room
was also built, named in honor
of Mel's daughter, Pamela, who
passed away in 2002 due to
complications from leukemia.
Shortly after Pam’s death, Mel
helped found The Pamela B.
Katten Memorial Leukemia
ResearchFoundation, a nonprofit
organization dedicated to raising
money for cancer research.
His incomparable work to help
advance the fields of the arts,
architecture, social outreach,
and cancer research has helped
thousands of individuals and
families across the city.
Mel has a long and notable
commitment to charitable
work. He is former chair of
the Anti-Defamation League’s
Chicago Regional Board and
past president of the Better
Government Association. In
addition to serving on the
Auditorium’s Board of Directors,
he also serves on the Board of
Trustees of Roosevelt University
and is a member of the Board of
Directors of the Chicago Loop
Alliance and LUMA8.
Thank you, Mel, for the difference
you have made in our lives, and
for the profound impact you
have had on the bright future of
the Auditorium Theatre!
Thank You,
Mel Katten…
“If your actions inspire others
to dream more, learn more,
do more, and become more,
you are a leader.”
—
John Quincy Adams
The Auditorium Theatre honors Mel Katten with the presentation of the Adler and Sullivan Award
at the Annual Fall Gala on November 3, preceding the performance of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons.
For tables or tickets, please call 312.341.2364 or email
ksaroª@auditoriumtheatre.org.
ROBERT CARL PHOTOGRAPHY
Mel Katten and his wife, Renee Katten