Slideshow, Audio: Photos & Interviews at Chicago’s ‘a Night with Oscar’ on March 4, 2018

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Center on Halsted CEO Tico Valle and Rebecca O’Neal on the Red Carpet.

CHICAGO – It was super finery and ultimate glam at the Park West in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood on Academy Awards night, March 4th, 2018, where “a Night with Oscar” took place. The event, which was a benefit for Center on Halsted and presented by Comcast/NBCUniversal, combined food, drink, Red Carpet and Oscar viewing revelry with information about the support that Center on Halsted provides for the LGBTQ+ community in Chicago. The event was co-hosted by variety of local notables, including Lee Ann Trotter, who covers entertainment for the local NBC5 news.

Center on Halsted is the most comprehensive community center in Chicagoland dedicated to building and strengthening the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) community, directly impacting the community members of all ages with diverse public programs and social services. Center on Halsted offers youth and senior programming, behavior health services, HIV testing, anti-violence work, and educational programming. For every dollar donated to Center on Halsted, nearly three/fourths are spent directly on providing these community programs and services. Center on Halsted is located in the heart of Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. Comcast/NBCUniversal is one of the nation’s largest video, high-speed internet, phone providers and TV Network, and delivers those services to their customers under the XFINITY brand.

HollywoodChicago.com covered the Red Carpet arrivals and the event itself, with the photos in the slideshow and interviews with three of the prominent invitees and sponsor representatives at “a Night with Oscar.”

Tom Lenk, Actor & Activist

Tom Lenk is a working character actor in Los Angeles, known for three seasons on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” His credits include TV shows “Six Feet Under” and “Transparent,” and movies like “Date Night,” “The Number 23” and “The Cabin in the Woods.” At the Benefit, he also served as one of the judges for “Best Dressed” at the event.

Comedian Rebecca O’Neal

Born and raised in Chicago, Rebecca O’Neal honed her stand-up talents in the various clubs around town. Now based in Los Angeles, she just finished Season 2 of the Netflix series “Easy.” During her time in Chicago, she also hosted the local TV show “One Night Stand Up,” and at the benefit she interviewed people on the Red Carpet.

Jean-Claire Fitschen, Executive Director of Multicultural Services for Comcast

Jean-Claire Fitschen was one of the Comcast/NBCUniversal executives at the benefit, in the role of major sponsor representative. Ms. Fitschen was also instrumental in the launch of the LGBTQ+ programming option on Comcast’s XFINITY system.

Click “Next” and “Previous” to scan through the slideshow or jump directly to individual photos with the captioned links below. All photos © Patrick McDonald for HollywoodChicago.com

1. OSCARNITE1 [23]: Actor Tom Lenk on the Red Carpet at ‘a Night with the Oscar.’
2. OSCARNITE2 [24]: Center on Halsted CEO Tico Valle and Rebecca O’Neal on the Red Carpet.
3. OSCARNITE3 [22]: Attendees viewed the Oscars on a movie-sized screen at the Park West.
4. OSCARNITE4 [25]: Lee Ann Trotter of NBC5 news was one of the co-hosts for the event.
5. OSCARNITE5 [26]: The committee to find the ‘Best Dressed Attendee’ included Tom Lenk.
6. OSCARNITE6 [27]: The winner (left) of the Best Dressed Award at ‘a Night with Oscar.’
7. OSCARNITE7 [28]: Jean-Claire Fitschen of Comcast and interviewer, and event selfie.

[31]	By PATRICK McDONALD [32] Writer, Editorial Coordinator HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com [31]