The Barrow Group Theatre Company presented its 15th Annual Celebrity Doodles Auction & Gala on Monday, May 4th, 2009. Each year celebrities donate their artwork, or doodles, that are auctioned off in this annual fundraiser, at which The Barrow Group also honors individuals for their service to the arts and TBG. This year's honorees include Tony Award Winners Nathan Lane and Judith Ivey and arts advocate Jeff Dine.
The Barrow Group Theatre Company honored Nathan Lane, Judith Ivey and Jeff Dine with its "The Barrow Group Award" at its 15th Annual Celebrity Doodles Auction & Gala. The event honors the recipients' service and commitment to the arts, and celebrates celebrity by auctioning personal artwork - doodles - of some of today's most beloved entertainers.
Lane is currently co-producing Mike Birbiglia's Sleepwalk With Me, directed by TBG Co-Artistic Director Seth Barrish. The show was developed at TBG in its Play Development Programming. Birbiglia will be on-hand to present the award to Lane. Ivey is a veteran and award-winning stage and film actress and long-time supporter of TBG, as is Bill Pullman who will present her with the distinguished award. Dine is a former President of the Board of Trustees and constant supporter of TBG and its service to the community and the artistic landscape of the city.
Past Honorees include Anne Hathaway, Ann Reinking, Denis O'Hare, Patrick Quinn, Tony Hale, Allen Coulter and Frank Carucci.
Kevin Bacon, Eric Bogosian, Jeff Daniels, Tovah Feldshuh, Will Ferrell, Harvey Fierstein, Malcolm Gets, Whoopi Goldberg, Jonathan Groff, Marcia Gay Harden, Jay Leno, Steve Martin, Martha Plimpton, John Travolta, Donald Trump, Barbara Walters and Dianne Wiest have all donated artwork for this year's auction along with many more of today's beloved entertainers. Other items up for auction include a Bahamas vacation, hotel stays at The W and Wyndham Garden Hotel, and many dining, health and body and fashion must-haves.
The Gala is TBG's largest fundraising event, and provides resources for the company to continue its programming excellence, both on the stage and in the community.
The event took place from 6:30 to 10:00 pm at the lavish Studio 450 located at 450 West 31st Street on the 12th floor.
The Barrow Group was founded in 1986 and has received Obie and Drama Desk Awards for its nurturing of new playwrights and its unique approach to acting. TBG has been the artistic home and training ground for many notable actors and playwrights - including Oscar Nominee Anne Hathaway, Tony Award Winner Denis O'Hare, Vera Farmiga, Tony Hale, Michael Stahl David, Zachary Booth, Martin Moran, and Mike Birbiglia to name a few.
Photo credit: Kate Erin Gibson
