The Active Theater to Honor Estelle Parsons May 23

The Active Theater announced today that it will honor Academy Award ® winner and four-time Tony Award ® nominee Estelle Parsons with the inaugural Active Arts Award at its Spring Gala on Monday, May 23, 2011 at 7:30 pm at Trattoria Trecolori (254 West 47th Street, Manhattan), in the heart of New York's theater district. The event will also feature live performances from members of The Active Theater, a silent auction, and delicious food and wine. Proceeds will benefit The Active Theater's upcoming 2011-2012 season.

The Active Arts Award honors exemplary achievement in the theater arts as well as a commitment to and support of emerging artists and theater companies. The recipient is determined through a nominating process that includes The Active Theater staff, board of trustees, and respected collaborators. "We are thrilled to present Estelle Parsons with the first Active Arts Award," says Nathaniel Shaw, Artistic Director of The Active Theater. "Ms. Parsons has left an indelible mark on the American theater landscape and, in doing so, has positively influenced the community in which we work and create."

Estelle Parsons, currently on Broadway in the Manhattan Theater Club production of David Lindsay-Abaire's Good People, has enjoyed a lengthy and successful television, film, and stage career since the 1950's. Her first foray into the business began when she was hired by NBC's "The Today Show," where she became the first female political news reporter on network television. In 1956, Estelle appeared in her first stage performance in the Broadway production of Happy Hunting. Since then, she has gone on either to star in or direct over 25 plays. Most notably, she was nominated for the Tony Award ® for her performances in The Seven Descents of Myrtle (1968), Miss Reardon Drinks a Little (1971), Miss Margarida's Way (1978), andMornings at Seven (2002). She triumphantly returned to Broadway in 2008 as the star of August: Osage County and subsequently toured the United States and Canada in the production. In 2004, she was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.

Ms. Parson's film career began in Ladybug, Ladybug in 1963 and continued with 15 more roles over the next 30 years. Her performance in Bonnie & Clyde garnered her an Academy Award ® (1967), and she was nominated again the following year for her work in Rachel, Rachel (1968). On television, Estelle appeared in "All in the Family" but is best remembered as the mother of Roseanne on the hit sitcom of the same name, logging over 50 episodes during the show's nine year run. In addition to her acclaimed performances, Estelle has taught acting at Columbia and Yale and served as the Artistic Director of The Actors Studio from 1996 to 2001.

Tickets for the Spring Gala are $75 in advance and $100 at the door. They can be purchased at www.TheActiveTheater.com.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos

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