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A warm reception greeted a star-studded array of honorees,
presenters, guests and supporters of The Theatre Museum as
they arrived at the elegant National Arts Club in Manhattan's
Gramercy Park for the 2007 Awards for Excellence on Monday
evening, October 29, 2007. Mingling in the gracious reception
area of the historic building, guests enjoyed champagne and
appetizers while a violinist and mime entertained and silent
auction bids were being made. Dinner included smoked salmon,
grilled lamb chops with baked potatoes and carrot mousse
followed by a desert of fruit sorbets served in a
chocolate-lined pastry cup.
Following dinner, the ceremony began with a warm welcome from
O. Aldon James, Jr. president of the National Arts Club, and a
piano medley from Show Boat performed by musical director
Michael Lavine. Helen M. Guditis, president of The Theatre
Museum, thanked the audience for its support in sustaining the
legacy of theatre and shared a recap of The Theatre Museum's
accomplishments and plans for the future. Event co-chairs and
Broadway producers Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley expressed
appreciation for the worthy contributions of the evening’s
honorees and introduced Master of Ceremonies Jim Dale.
The first award was presented by television journalist Pia
Lindstrom for the Award for Excellence in Theatre Arts
Education by an Organization to Arts Horizons. She told the
audience that almost 30 years ago founder John Devol and a
group of his friends began voluntarily playing music for
public school students. Since then an organization developed
and has grown to provide professional arts programs to
students throughout New Jersey and New York. Mr. Devol
accepted the award with great enthusiasm.
James Naughton performed “I’ve Been Everywhere” from Street of
Dreams, receiving a hearty ovation for his rapid-fire
delivery. Following the song, he presented the Award for
Excellence in Theatre Arts Education by an Individual to
Carmen de Lavallade, with whom he had appeared at the
beginning of his career. Ms. de Lavallade was pleased to
receive the recognition for her work in education. She happily
acknowledged that she has learned as much from her students as
they have from her. As a tribute, she repeated her dance
around him as he sang the beginning of that early song, which
charmed everyone there.
Following this acceptance, Jim Dale and Jessica Grove´
performed a duet, “He Has a Way, She Has a Way,” from Busker
Alley. Then Jim Dale presented the Lifetime Achievement Award
to Ellen Burstyn. In addition to her theatre and film
performances, Ms. Burstyn served as the first woman president
of Actors Equity Association. She expressed gratitude for The
Theatre Museum honor and emphasized the need for a home for
the museum to help celebrate theatre's contributions to our
culture.
On a lighter note, Tovah Feldshuh performed two hysterically
funny songs, “Kaddish and Coffee” and “I Don’t Want to Get
Thin,” which delighted the audience.
Ms. Guditis and Mr. Lane presented the Award for Excellence in
Theatre History Preservation to Ben Brantley, chief theater
critic for the New York Times. Mr. Brantley, appearing via
videotape, shared that he first learned about theatre through
such reviews of plays that were being presented when he was
growing up. He acknowledged that he is a critic because he
passionately loves theatre.
Kerry Butler, starring in Xanadu, performed "Suspended in
time" from that show. Jim Dale closed the evening with a
rendition of "Blow Us A Kiss" and "Paddle Your Own Canoe",
then bid a heartflet good evening to the Theatre Museum's
guests and supporters.
For more information, please visit
www.thetheatremuseum.org
or call 212.764.4112, extension 201 |