More than 200 members of the Chicago theatre community signed a recommendation that the 2017 Non-Equity Special Jeff Award be bestowed on David Cerda, the co-founder and artistic director of Hell in a Handbag Productions, for his theatrical and charitable contributions.
The Jeff Awards Committee concurred. Cerda will receive the award at the 44th Annual Non-Equity Awards ceremony on Monday, June 5, at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave..
Cerda was elected to the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame in in 2016 for both theatrical achievements and philanthropic efforts. Also, Hell In A Handbag has raised more than $58,000 for local and national causes, ranging from the American Cancer Society to The Wounded Warrior Project to Hams 4 Hams, an organization he co-founded with Lori Cannon that provides holiday staples for clients of Groceryland, which feeds those who are HIV positive and living with AIDS.
The public is invited to attend; visit JeffAwards.org.