On March 17th, join family and friends of Gene Wolfe at the Sanfilippo Estate in Barrington Hills as the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame honors him with the first “Fuller Award” acknowledging an outstanding lifetime contribution to literature.
Neil Gaiman, Michael Dirda, Peter Sagal, Gary K. Wolfe, Michael Swanwick, Peter Straub, Jody Lynn Nye, Patrick O’Leary, David G. Hartwell, Audrey Niffenegger, Bill Facett, Kyle Cassidy, and Sam Weller are just a few of the many luminaries set to pay tribute to the writer whose body of work, including the Chicago-set Free Live Free, distinguishes him as one of our city’s finest literary treasures. (We will be updating the list as we get confirmation from additional Special Guests.)
Experiencing the treasures of the Sanfilippo Estate in Barrington Hills usually requires a personal invitation. The estate, nicknamed Place de la Musique, is a 44,000-square-foot private residence filled with magnificent collections of beautifully restored antique music machines, a European salon carousel, street and clock towers, steam engines, and other antiques. However, on March 17 the estate will open its doors to honor Gene Wolfe.
The evening begins with a tour of all house galleries and exhibits, as members of the theater ensemble Terra Mysterium interact with guests as characters from Gene’s stories. Following the tour, guests enter the music salon for the formal portion of the evening with Master of Ceremonies, Gary K. Wolfe, Professor of Humanities and English at Roosevelt University and award-winning editor and critic. Gene Wolfe will be awarded the Fuller Award, named after one of Chicago’s most important early writers, Henry Blake Fuller, whose novel The Cliff-Dwellers is considered by many to be the first realistic novel set in Chicago.
Following the award presentation, we’ll hear a few words from Gene and the audience will be treated to a staged reading of one of Gene’s short stories, adapted by Chicago writer Larry Santoro and performed by members of Terra Mysterium.
The reading will be accompanied by R. Jelani Eddington, one of the world’s most accomplished pipe organists on Sanfilippo’s 80-rank, 8,000 pipe organ. After the reading, guests will be treated to a concert on the Theatre Pipe Organ.
Following the performance, those who purchase a Dinner Ticket will head to the Carousel Pavilion, built to house the completely restored and operative 1890 ‘Eden Palais’ carousel.
Peter Sagal, host of NPR’s news quiz show ‘Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!” will be the toastmaster during dinner, introducing Special Guests as they offer up speeches and toasts in honor of Gene Wolfe.
After the meal, guests are welcome to explore the Carousel Pavilion and visit with Special Guests while enjoying the dessert table, gourmet coffee station, and specialty cordials.
The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame invites you to experience the fantastic evening amidst a private collection not accessible to the public at large. At the same time, patrons will be supporting the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, whose mission is to promote and celebrate Chicago’s rich and proud literary tradition. Proceeds from the evening will go toward creating a permanent home for the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame and its growing library and exhibit.
“We need a space that will enable us to permanently exhibit the story of Chicago’s great literary heritage,” said Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Executive Director Donald G. Evans. “Our mission is to preserve and promote Chicago’s literature, and as we enter Year Three we’ve set ourselves to really make a difference in our community and beyond.”
The cost of a Ceremony Ticket for the tour, award presentation, and performance is $65 per person.
The cost of a Dinner Ticket, which includes dinner, tableside wine service, dessert, and a coffee station with specialty liqueurs and cordials, is $150 per person or $1,400 for a table of ten.
Tickets are limited, and none will be sold at the door. Discounted tickets are available for CWA and Cliff Dweller members.
Join us at Sanfilippo Estate for a once-in-a-lifetime event as we celebrate an Evening to Honor Gene Wolfe.
Tickets may be purchased online through eventbrite.
Contact: Valya Dudycz Lupescu (valyadl@gmail.com), Chicago Literary Hall of Fame
