|
The Theatre Museum Awards were held on May 17, 2010
at The Players Club. The event was hosted by Gala
Chair Bonnie Comley, Theatre Museum President Helen
Marie Guditis, and Chairman of The Theatre Museum
Board, Stewart F. Lane. The evening was comprised
of a cocktail hour which included a silent auction
with jeweler Judith Ripka and a theatre tickets
raffle followed by an SRO performance with top
Broadway talent. In tribute to its Career
Achievement Award winners Richard M. Sherman and
Robert B. Sherman, the show featured highlights from
the brothers' songbook - with selections from "Mary
Poppins," "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," "Over Here" and
"Busker Alley."
"It was an evening filled with the songs of one of
the greatest composing teams in the history of
American music," says Broadway producer and
Chairman, Stewart F. Lane
"We're thrilled to be able to honor a duo that has
contributed so much to the American musical. We look
forward to their work being heard on Broadway for
many years to come."
Disney
Theatrical Productions' president and producer
Tom Schumacher presented the Career Achievement
Award to the Sherman Brothers. Mr. Schumacher
claimed,” the Sherman brothers are a part of
everyone’s life. Important life lessons can be
found in their like lyrics feed the birds “ a plea
for kindness and “It’s a Small World” which was
written as a prayer for peace. Inducted into the
Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005,
the Sherman Brothers won Academy Awards in 1965 for
Best Musical Score for "Mary Poppins" and Best
Music, Original Song for "Chim Chim Cher-ee." During
their tenure with
Walt Disney, they composed over 200 tunes. As pop
music composers, the team created such top-ten hits
as
"You're Sixteen," "Let's Get Together," and
"Tall Paul.".
The one night
only performance was directed by Tony, Oscar, Emmy
and Drama Desk Award winner Tony Walton. In addition
to his work as a director, for five decades Mr.
Walton has been among Broadway's top scenic
and costume designers.
His 50-plus productions include the
original presentations of "Chicago," "Pippin," "A
Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,"
"Streamers," "Golden Boy," "Woman of the Year," "Hurlyburly,"
"Steel Pier," "I'm Not Rapport" "Seussical,"
"Well," and "A Tale of Two Cities," He's also lent
his talents to the revivals of "Annie Get Your Gun,"
"1776," "Our Town," "Company," "Uncle Vanya" and
""Anything Goes." Mr. Walton's film credits include
his Oscar-winning work for "All That Jazz,"
as well as "The Wiz," "Equus," "Regarding Henry,"
"Heartburn" and "Deathtrap."
Performing the
Sherman Brothers songbook were Tony award-winning
actor Jim Dale, Sarah Rice, John Bolton, Jennif er
Evans, Kevin Cahoon, Jessica Grove, Noah Racey and
Annika Boras. The musical conductor was Aaron Gandy.
Richard Sherman took to the stage for a grand finale
of two of his most widely recognizable songs,
“Winnie The Pooh” and “It’s a Small World”
The Theatre
Museum also honored Samuel French, Inc. with
its Theatre Arts Education Award, the award was
presented to Leon Embry by Tappan Wilder. The Mint
Theater Company was presented with the Museum's
Theatre History Preservation Award; George Morfogen
presenting to Artistic Director Jonathan Banks. The
Mint Theatre company specializes in producing
worthwhile but neglected stage works from the past,
and has just been nominated for four 2010 Drama Desk
Awards for its production of "So Help Me God.”
.
For more information, please see: http://www.thetheatremuseum.org
|