Wilson and Margulies to Receive Seff Awards

Mary Louise Wilson and David Margulies have been named to receive the annual Richard Seff Awards, presented by the Actors' Equity Foundation.  The announcement was made by Arne Gundersen, President of the Foundation. The awards honor a female and male character actor, 50 years of age or older, for the best performance in a supporting role in a Broadway or Off-Broadway production.  The prizes are $1,000 each plus a crystal trophy.

Wilson was recognized for her performance as Edith Bouvier Beale in the Broadway musical Grey Gardens. She's played the role since it opened Off-Broadway in 2006, when she was nominated for Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel awards and was honored by the Drama League for her performance.  She received both an Obie and Drama Desk Award for Full Gallop, a play about the legendary Diana Vreeland, which she co-authored; was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance as Fraulein Schneider in the Broadway revival of Cabaret, and also appeared on Broadway in Show Boat; Fools; Prelude to a Kiss; Alice in Wonderland; The Royal Family; The Women and Flora, The Red Menace.

Margulies was recognized for his performances this season in both All That I Will Ever Be at The New York Theater Workshop and as Rabbi Stephen Wise in The Accomplices, produced by The New Group.  Earlier this season he was also in Odets' Rocket to the Moon at the Long Wharf Theatre.  Other Broadway credits include Wonderful Town, 45 Seconds From Broadway, Angels in America, Conversations With My Father, The West Side Waltz, Comedians and Brighton Beach Memoirs.

Equity member Richard Seff established these awards in 2003.  Previous recipients include: Tom Aldredge, Larry Bryggman, Jim Dale, Jane Houdyshell, Dana Ivey and Margo Martindale.

The presentation will take place at Equity's Eastern Regional Board meeting at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 at Equity's offices, 165 West 46th Street, New York.

The Judges' Panel includes:  Irene Backalenick, Back Stage; Adam Feldman, Time Out NY; Harry Haun, Playbill; Michael Kuchwara, Associated Press; David Rosenberg, Back Stage, and Michael Sommers, The Star Ledger.

Visit www.actorsequity.com for more on Actors' Equity.

Photo of Mary Louise Wilson by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.