In his directorial debut for The American Film Company, Robert Redford proves, yet again, he is a force to be reckoned with. The film, “The Conspirator,” with screenplay by James D. Soloman, is set in post-Civil War Washington and had been around for 18 years before The American Film Company founder, Joe Ricketts, purchased it. Redford says in his Michigan Avenue Magazine interview, “When I first got it [the script], I thought, ‘Lincoln, that territory’s been well covered.’ But then I realized it’s a story no one knows about — the story of Mary Surratt and Booth’s co-conspirators. What appealed to me was that this was the story that had not been told, hidden in an event that everybody knows. Lincoln’s assassination by Booth and so forth, the world knows about that, but not about the conspirators because [Edwin] Stanton, the secretary of war, had succeeded with what he had set out to do: bury them right away.” The film stars James McAvoy, Robin Wright, Alexis Bledel, James Badge Dale, Jonathan Groff, Danny Huston, Kevin Kline, Tom Wilkinson and Evan Rachel Wood to name a few. The American Film Company’s Joe Ricketts founded the company based on the belief that real life is often more compelling than fiction and plans on producing feature films about incredible, true stories from America’s past. The buzz around town for this event was at a fever pitch by the time this screening occurred at AMC River East. The crowd of invitees who came for this special screening included Stella Foster, Alderman Ed Burke, Judge Anne Burke, Marty Wilke, Chaz Ebert, Linda Johnson Rice, Neal Zucker, Christie Hefner and Billy Marovitz, Margaret O’Connor, Julee White, Israel Idonije, Kimberly Burt, Michael Kutza and Jeanne Malkin among many others. Sadly, I could only stay for an hour of this fabulous movie because I was scheduled to appear in Elda de la Rosa’s Spring/Summer 2011 Fashion Show at the Allerton Hotel this same night. (You will hear more about this later!) but from what I heard, the movie was a huge hit with the crowd and many reported tearing up at the end! After the fashion show, I high-tailed it over to the River East Art Center where throngs of people had already assembled. Michigan Avenue Magazine and the Ricketts family (aka the owners of the Cubs) co-hosted this event and did a GREAT job! It could have easily been a mob scene but they wisely kept the crowd to a reasonable size. I waited in the media line with Julee White and our camera crew waiting for a glimpse of you-know-who! (More on why we have a camera crew later, too!) Everyone was on the line including WGN’s Dean Richards, Channel 7’s Janet Davies (who could not have been kinder to me), Channel 2 and some jerk with an unknown mic flag who kept hitting Janet in the back of the head. Anyway, it’s dog eat dog getting an interview as big as this one! And then Robert appeared in all his craggy handsomeness. I was spellbound to know I was so close to a man who has done so much for the world of film. He laughed easily and talked to everyone in the line and then, poof, he was gone. The lights seemed to dim in the building…but, happily, that didn’t end my fun for the evening! There was lots of chatting to be done and more interviews to grab so off Julee and I went to the main floor. I saw the Landon twins, Tom, Pete and Laura Ricketts, Alfred Levitt (COO of The American Film Company), Brian Falk (the film’s producer), Bill Holderman (another producer), Mich Mag’s Dan Uslan and Susanna Negovan, Tom Negovan, Jerry Lasky, Patrick Plante, Michael O’Meara, Larry Wert, Sugar Rautbord, Marisa Bryce, Dusty Stemer, Laurie Davis, Genine Shafer, Bonnie Rickard, Cub’s Billy Williams, Fergie Jenkins, Jim Hendry, Roe Conn, Alexi Giannoulias, Jill Bastian, Fred Jackson, Sherrill Bodine, Marcus Riley, Les Coney and Rick Solis among many others. Paramount Events (Jimmy Bannos, Sr., Jody Fyfe and Tony Pontillo) expertly catered the event with delicious offerings...YUM! It was an amazing night - one I will always remember on so many levels! “The Conspirator” opens nationwide on April 15th so DON’T MISS IT! (To view ALL event photos by Mila Samokhina, please click here.)
Speaking of fashion, popular designer Elda de la Rosa premiered her Spring/Summer 2011 collection at the Allerton this weekend. Again, a standing room only crowd! I am so happy to see Chicago supporting our talented home-grown designers! The banks of photographers and cameras were something to behold as the beautiful models presented one knockout outfit after another. Elda specializes in evening gowns and bridal wear but her cocktail dresses were a huge hit as well. Guest models included ABC-7’s Diana Palomar, WCIU 26’s Jeanne Sparrow and moi! I wore one of my own Elda dresses, which was a simple black sheath with a removable shawl collar. The show was produced expertly, as usual, by Tracey Tarantino with guest commentator Frank Andonoplas. The Allerton ballroom was the perfect venue for this well received event which also included a cocktail reception in what used to be the Tip-Top-Tap. I am so thrilled for Elda and I know she received some gown orders for the Joffrey Ballet’s upcoming Gala on April 29th! (To view ALL event pics by Caitlin Saville and Steve Starr, please click here.) I know I am biased but I am so proud of my stepson Charley Jordan and his wonderful Polarity Ensemble Theatre company on the success of their current play, “Ephemera.” The Sun-Times named Polarity “small but mighty” in a recent feature and in 2008, Chicago Reader named Polarity “Best Emerging Theater Company.” I couldn’t agree more on both counts! On the show’s opening night, the talented cast took the audience along for a ride in space where danger lurked outside the ship’s portals, a love triangle existed between a drunken monkey and two astronauts and a robot sang melancholy Latin love songs. Written by Bruce Wissel, this two act play also features Sarah Grant, Bob Wilson, Kim Boler, Jonas Grey, Kaelan Strouse and Hilary Holbrook. The play runs through May 1st at the Josephinum Academy, located at 1500 N. Bell. For tickets and more info, please visit www.pettheatre.com. (To view ALL event pics, please click here.) I’ve heard about a lot of clever hotel packages around town dedicated to Royal Wedding watchers but none as clever as the one offered by the Park Hyatt Chicago. Their “A Touch of Royalty” package includes overnight accommodations for two, a horse-drawn carriage ride, two Kiss-Me-Kate-tinis (blue sapphire-colored, of course!), two “No More Waity, Katie” nail lacquers by Butter London and two tickets to the Art Institute of Chicago’s “Kings, Queens, and Courtiers” exhibit where “you will enter an enchanting world of chivalry, royal symbolism and the rediscovered glamour of antiquity.” Your early morning (4:30 AM!) wake-up call includes an English Breakfast in bed as you enjoy Kate and William’s nuptials! Rates begin at $457; for reservations, please call Kelly Kinseth at 312-239-4014 or email kelly.kinseth@hyatt.com. Huge congrats to Visual Therapy’s Jesse Garza and Joe Lupo on their upcoming VT Luxe Launch! This will be their first collection of fashion accessories for QVC which aired Sunday evening (Spring Fashion Day) and consists of special pieces that Jesse and Joe feel belong in every woman’s closet. Their VT Luxe Collection includes scarf vests, earrings, Lock-It watches, t-shirt dresses, necklaces, jeans, leggings belts and more priced from $21.50 to $69.50. For over 20 years, they have worked in the world of luxury and fashion building wardrobes for women of style and substance and fine-tuning collections for fashion designers. They feel now is the time to share their secrets by offering VT Luxe to shoppers nationwide. I wish them all the best!! To see their collection, please visit www.QVC.com. I am thrilled and grateful to be included in Michigan Avenue Magazine’s “100 Powerful Chicagoans” feature in their April/May 2011 issue. The list is formidable and I am truly, truly honored to be among such influential company. To check out the complete list, please visit Michigan Avenue Magazine’s website for an online teaser to subscribe.
Lastly, the Gene Siskel Film Center presents a special advance screening of "Bill Cunningham New York," a documentary about The New York Times “On The Street” photographer who took fashion out of the salons and established street style as the weathervane of couture trends to come. It will be presented one night only - Wednesday, April 6, at 6:15 PM - so I hope to see you there!!!!
Well, that’s the lowdown on some great Chicago highlights! "See" you next week!
P.S. And now, another darling video that will make you laugh out loud!
PR man Ryan Beshel (Bow Tie Memoirs) was sweating bullets a week or so before the Red Hot Runway Fashion Show – “I’ve only got 50 RSVPs!” he said – but all of this changed the evening of the event, which was presented by Columbia College Chicago’s PRSSA chapter (Public Relations Student Society of America) and The Chicago Red Dress Party when a standing room only crowd cheered on the talented student designers. The designs were judged on quality, construction, technical execution, fabrication, function and “walkability.” I was thrilled to be judging along with pros Jerry Szec and designer Miriam Cecilia Carlson. Fellow judge, Time Out’s Kevin Aeh, and I loved learning the technicalities of judging a garment from these industry insiders. You have to make sure the seams are finished nicely, the fabric is appropriate for the design and the rendering looks like the final product. Even tiny things you wouldn’t notice like thread that doesn’t match for the inside seams or poor ironing all counts in the judging process. Designers competing included Jiayin Zheng, Sadie Smith, Kelly Coll, Dana DuPree, Chloe Flora, Kristin Gillespie, Jacqueline Amezcua, Omotola Akinbiyi, Russell Yost, Katya Flores, Ruth Reyes, Amy Hilber and Johnny Hicks. Their only instructions were that the design had to be red since this event was a kick-off for the premiere Chicago Red Dress Party on April 16th. The theme continued with creative red visual displays by Michael Zoccoli on either side of the runway which created a stunning focal point for the show. Platinum Events’ Justin Jacobson emceed and event founder Kyler Powell spoke eloquently about his passion for this organization. There was a moving video presentation by Jeff Magee and then the models appeared onstage. I thought most of the designs were outstanding. As a matter of fact, I will be contacting Chloe Flora concerning her beautiful and chic design! But in the end, only three would place for gift certificates, roses and a standing ovation. The winner was Amy Hilber, second runner up was Chloe Flora and third place winner was Russell Yost. Congratulations to ALL of the designers and I hope to see everyone at the Chicago Red Dress Party benefitting the Aids Foundation of Chicago on Saturday, April 16th. For tickets and more info, please click here. (To view ALL event pics by Caitlin Saville, please click here.)
