American Theatre Wing's 2012 Gala Sets Record as Highest Grossing in Wing History

Heather Hitchens, Executive Director of the American Theatre Wing, has announced that the Wing's 2012 Gala, held Monday, September 24 at The Plaza Hotel, was the most successful in the organization's history, raising just shy of $600,000.

All proceeds from the evening will benefit the education and outreach programs of the American Theatre Wing, which include SpringboardNYC, the Theatre Intern Group, the National Theatre Company Grants and the Jonathan Larson Grants, and will also support free access for students, aspiring professionals, and the general public to programming on AmericanTheatreWing.org, including "Working in the Theatre," "Downstage Center," and "In the Wings."

The black tie event marked the American Theatre Wing's 95th year of service, and was held in honor of The Redgrave Family's six generations of outstanding work and invaluable contributions to the theatrical community. Vanessa Redgrave, along with family members Daisy Bevan, Annabel Clark, Ben Clark, Liam Neeson, Daniel Neeson, Michael Neeson, Franco Nero, Carlo Nero, Gabriel Owen, Kika Markham, and Joely Richardson, all turned out for the occasion. This year's Gala also included a special tribute to Theodore S. Chapin, Executive Director of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, for his exceptional service as Chair of the American Theatre Wing.

The evening's line-up of presenters and performers included Harold Prince, John Benjamin Hickey, Daryl Roth, Jordan Roth, Alan Cumming, Laura Osnes, Will Chase, Ron Raines, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Celia Keenan-Bolger.

Among the approximate 350 attendees were Jessica Chastain, Judy Collins, Brian Dennehy, Joan Didion, Jesse Eisenberg, Star Jones, Laura Linney, Jo Sullivan Loesser, Debra Messing, Angelica Page, Patrick Page, Oliver Platt, Mary Rodgers, and Morley Safer.

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