Chicago actress Paula Scrofano named Porchlight Theatre's Guy Adkins Award winner

Award-winning actress Paula Scrofano can now bee seen as Frau Blucher in the Drury Lane Theatre production of the Mel Brooks musical “Young Frankenstein.”

Actress Paula Scrofano, whose career has spanned several decades, and who has appeared in roles on most of this city’s major stages, has been named the winner of the 2014 Guy Adkins Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Music Theatre in Chicago. It will be presented at Porchlight Music Theater’s annual ICONS Gala to be held 11 a.m. -2 p.m. on March 23 at the at the Grand Ballroom, InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, 505 N. Michigan. The special guest for the benefit and award ceremony will bet, Chicago-born Broadway star and recording artist Liz Callaway. The fundraising gala kicks off Porchlight’s 20th anniversary of creating “American Musicals, Chicago Style.”

Paula Scrofano is currently performing in the Drury Lane Theatre production of the Mel Brooks musical, “Young Frankenstein,” bringing down the house as the wacky, whinnying Frau Blücher, “girlfriend” of the late Dr. Victor Frankenstein. Other recent roles include Mrs. Brill in “Mary Poppins” (at the Marriott Theatre), Abuela Claudia in “In the Heights” (at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora) and Aunt Eller in the Lyric Opera’s revival of “Oklahoma!”.

Past recipients of the prestigious prize named after adkins, the gifted musical theater actor who died young, have included executive director of The Mercury Theatre L. Walter Stearns (2011), multi-award winning actress Hollis Resnik (2012) and multi-award winning music director/conductor Doug Peck (2013).

Advance reservations to the gala are $100 per person and $125 after March 7. Tickets for children 13 years and younger are $25. The elegant seated brunch includes complimentary mimosas and a cash bar. Tickets are available at porchlighmusictheatre.org or by phone (773) 777.9884. Proceeds from the event and its accompanying auction will benefit Porchlight’s educational programs and productions.