Chicago's acclaimed Black Ensemble Theater, under Founder and Executive Director Jackie Taylor, will host its 9th Annual Benefit, themed "Building a New Legacy." The business-attire event will take place at Alhambra Palace, 1240 West Randolph Street, on Wednesday, October 28, 2009. Benefit tickets are $250. Funds raised at the 9th Annual Benefit will go towards general operations of the Black Ensemble Theater Company. The evening will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a delectable Mediterranean style dinner, which will be followed by a short program featuring selections from some of Black Ensemble Theater's hit performances, including the company's most recent production, "The Message Is in the Music (God is a Black Man Named Ricky)."

There will also be a live auction with exciting items such as a walk-on role in a Black Ensemble Theater production, the opportunity to sponsor 100 students to attend a Plays with a Purpose production, and many more! The Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening will be LeeAnn Trotter of NBC Chicago. The Honorary Chair of Black Ensemble Theater's 9th Annual Benefit - Building A New Legacy is Governor Pat Quinn, joined by benefit Co-Chairs Diana Hennington of Grand Events, Inc. and Loretta H. Davenport of the Law Office of Loretta H. Davenport.

The Black Ensemble Theater Company was founded in 1976 by Jackie Taylor, who has written and directed more than 100 productions for the company. In addition to its main stage productions, the Black Ensemble Theater Company produces 'Plays with a Purpose,' a series of original youth-oriented musicals, designed to teach students positive life lessons and values, as well as several community-based programs that use theater arts to enhance and enrich the lives of countless youth, students and families. Black Ensemble Theater is in the final stages of its capital campaign to build a new home for the company, the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center. Of the $15 million needed for the project $13 million has been raised to date. The Black Ensemble Theater expects to break ground and begin construction in the spring of 2010. The mission of the Black Ensemble Theater Company is to eradicate racism and its devastating effects upon society through the theater arts. For more information on the Black Ensemble Theater Company, please visit www.blackensembletheater.org or call 773-769-4451.