Some of the biggest names in film and theatre turned out to pay tribute to Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Horton Foote
at Signature Theatre Company's annual gala, which was held at the
Ritz Carlton New York in Battery Park on Monday, March 13th.
Edward Albee, Matthew Broderick, Robert Duvall, Estelle Parsons and John Guare were among those who attended the event, which was held the day before Foote's
90th birthday. Former U.S. president Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary
Rodham Clinton served as the honorary chairs of the evening. The
gala also featured the inaugural presentation of the Signature
Playwrights' Award to the Shubert Foundation for the organization's
contributions to the American theatre.
Signature Theatre Company recently presented a critically-acclaimed revival of Foote's The Trip to Bountiful, starring Lois Smith and directed by Harris Yulin; it closed on March 11th. Foote,
who was Signature's playwright-in-residence during its 1994-95 season,
is an Academy Award-winner for his screenplay adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird and for his screenplay to Tender Mercies, as well as Pulitzer Prize-winner for The Young Man from Atlanta. His plays include The Last of the Thorntons, The Carpetbagger's Children, Lily Dale, The Widow Clare, Night Seasons, and The Day Emily Married. His The Traveling Lady will be presented at Ensemble Studio Theatre from March 1st through 19th.
For more on Signature Theatre Company, visit www.signaturetheatre.org.
Photos by Marianne Szucs
Signature Theatre Company Playwright-in-Residence John Guare and Academy Award-winner
Estelle Parsons
Old friends
Matthew Broderick and
Horton Foote
Horton Foote, who won an Academy Award for his adapted screenplay of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, poses with Lee and the film's Boo Radley, Robert Duvall
Mystery guest
Dame Edna surprises
Horton Foote 
Dame Edna reads a poem she wrote in honor of
Horton Foote 
Old friends
Dame Edna and
Horton Foote pose for a photo
Edward Albee toasts
Horton Foote 
Cecilia Jones,
James Earl Jones and Robert Duvall
Horton Foote and Vicki Reiss, Executive Director of the Shubert Foundation, which received the inaugural Signature Theatre Company's Playwrights' Award
Horton Foote's children pay tribute to him at Signature Theatre Company's Gala.; from left,
Hallie Foote, Walter Foote, Daisy Foote and
Horton Foote, Jr.
James Earl Jones gives a toast in honor or
Horton Foote
