Local singing sensation Shelley MacArthur took to the Joffrey Ballet’s stage on Valentine’s Day to warm the hearts of 250 guests with a special performance of her cabaret show, “What is This Thing Called Love?” Attendees sipped free-flowing Champagne and snacked on delicious bites — the menu was planned by chef Charlie Trotter and included a raw bar, Vosges truffles, chocolate-covered strawberries and French pastries — before taking their seats in the Murphy Auditorium (50 E. Erie) and enjoying tunes from MacArthur, husband-and-wife opera singers Rodrick Dixon and Alfreda Burke, and Rich Daniels and the 33-piece City Lights Orchestra. With the help of a co-chair committee that included Melissa Babcock, Renée Crown, Marty Higgins, Jerrilyn Hoffman, Whitney Lasky, Traci Mansur, Shauna Montgomery, Maria Smithburg and Kimberly White, more than $200,000 was raised to benefit the Joffrey’s programs and performances. The Sun-Times was the media sponsor of this event. Story by Katerina Bizios | Photos by Ramzi Dreessen and Bob Carl

Local singing sensation Shelley MacArthur took to the Joffrey Ballet’s stage on Valentine’s Day to warm the hearts of 250 guests with a special performance of her cabaret show, “What is This Thing Called Love?” Attendees sipped free-flowing Champagne and snacked on delicious bites — the menu was planned by chef Charlie Trotter and included a raw bar, Vosges truffles, chocolate-covered strawberries and French pastries — before taking their seats in the Murphy Auditorium (50 E. Erie) and enjoying tunes from MacArthur, husband-and-wife opera singers Rodrick Dixon and Alfreda Burke, and Rich Daniels and the 33-piece City Lights Orchestra. With the help of a co-chair committee that included Melissa Babcock, Renée Crown, Marty Higgins, Jerrilyn Hoffman, Whitney Lasky, Traci Mansur, Shauna Montgomery, Maria Smithburg and Kimberly White, more than $200,000 was raised to benefit the Joffrey’s programs and performances.

The Sun-Times was the media sponsor of this event.

Story by Katerina Bizios | Photos by Ramzi Dreessen and Bob Carl