On Monday, March 26th, the National Arts Club hosted The St. George's Society Arts Initiative, MC'd by Tony Award-winner Jim Dale (Barnum, The Threepenny Opera) and featuring a Panel Discussion moderated by Producer Margot Astrachan, entitled "Demystifying the Theatre Awards, The Tonys, The Drama Desk Awards, and the Lucille Lortel Awards."
The panel featured Charlotte St. Martin Executive Director, The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc., whose mission is to foster an increase in awareness and interest in Broadway theatre, in addition to presenting the Tony Awards in partnership with The American Theatre Wing; Howard Sherman Executive Director, The American Theatre Wing, which is dedicated to supporting excellence and education in the theatre, as well as presenting the Tony Awards in partnership with the League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc., and receiving acclaim for the weekly NY television show "Working in the Theatre;" William Wolf President, The Drama Desk, Inc., an organization of theater critics and journalists who cover the NY theater since 1949 and have given out the Drama Desk Award for excellence in theater since 1955.
It also featured George S. Forbes Executive Director, The Lucille Lortel Foundation, which oversees the Lucille Lortel Awards, which are given annually for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway, and Representative to the League of Off-Broadway Theatre and Producers, Inc.; and Robert R. Blume Executive Producer and Presenter of The Drama Desk Awards, which honor excellence in Broadway, off-Broadway and non-profit New York Theatre. The awards are televised on NYC TV 25 and Thirteen/WNET locally, and on PBS elsewhere throughout the United States.
The lively panel discussion featured each panelist elaborating on the roles and agend as their organization take in rewarding theatrical excellence in their specific areas as they celebrate and promote theater. In addition to the St. George Society members, this unique panel attracted a number of theater professionals including Roy A. Somlyo (former President of the American Theater Wing); British theater company Mind The Gap Artistic Director, Paula D'Alessandris; and Producer/Casting Director, Kristine Lewis (Burleigh Grimes, Enchanted April)
To conclude the evening, there were both a Scotch Whisky Tasting and a Thistle & Broom / Harris Tweed Textiles Show in celebration of Tartan Week arranged by The American-Scottish Foundation, Inc.
Visit www.nationalartsclub.org for more information.
Photos by John Shannon
Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director, The League of American Theatres and Producers; Howard Sherman, Executive Director, The American Theatre Wing; Robert R. Blume, Executive Producer, The Drama Desk Awards; and Margot W. Astrachan, Chairman, St. George's Society Arts Initiative.
William Wolf, President, The Drama Desk, Inc.
Margot W. Astrachan, Chairman, St. George's Society Arts Initiative; Jim Dale, Broadway star and Host for the evening; Robert R. Blume; Kristine Lewis, Producer (Burleigh Grimes, Enchanted April)
Robert R. Blume with Paula D'Alessandris, Artistic Director of Mind The Gap Theatre
Alan L. Bain, President, American-Scottish Foundation
Ken Starrett, President, North American Director, Noel Coward Society
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