FEBRUARY EVENT, "LOVE WILL LEAD YOU BACK" TAKES ON 80s PROM THEME
NAPERVILLE–Taking on a 1980s prom theme and titled for one of its headliner’s greatest hits, Academy of the Arts (AOTA) will host its 2nd Annual Gala, Love Will Lead You Back, Friday, Feb. 10, at Yellow Box Theater, 1635 Emerson Rd., Naperville, IL. Doors open at 6 p.m. with an open bar and silent auction. A three-course dinner at 7 p.m. is followed by an 8 p.m. concert featuring Grammy Nominee Taylor Dayne.
In addition to the general ticket option including open bar, dinner and concert at $125 per person AOTA is offering a VIP package for $350 that adds a private meet-and-greet with Dayne, and an after party.
AOTA’s mission is to build and open an arts-based K-12 day school, offering the core academic areas of math, reading, language arts, social studies and science, along with a range of visual arts and performing arts programs to serve families in Chicago’s western suburbs, by the 2025-26 academic year. It currently offers after-school and weekend Studio programs in performing arts, along with seasonal, weeklong Impact programs with vocal, dance and acting classes taught by Broadway artists, industry sessions with leading talent agents and casting directors, and more. Events such as the annual gala and other fundraisers allow the non-profit to operate, to build toward its day school opening, and to offer need-based scholarships to students.
“We’ve had an incredible first year of operations including three Impact sessions and Studio classes since January 2022 with growing enrollment,” said Academy Co-Founder and Executive Director Dylan Ladd. “We are seeing strong support from throughout the community.”
Tickets now are on sale and sponsorship packages also are available. Learn more at www.illinoisartsacademy.org/events.
