ANT Founders' Celebration honors August Wilson

The American National Theatre, Inc. (Sean Cullen, Founder and President of ANT) will host its first Founders' Celebration on Monday, May 9th, 2005 at the Dodger Stages (World Wide Plaza, 50th & 8th Ave.)

Paul Newman and JoAnne Woodward are the Honorary Co- Chairs of the event, which will begin with a champagne VIP reception at 6PM, followed by the "Voices of America" program at 7PM, and capping-off with a cocktail celebration till 9PM. Tony-winners Donna Murphy and Elizabeth Franz, and Tony-nominee Zeljko Ivanek are scheduled to appear, along with other special guests.

The "Voices of America" program, directed by Tony-nominee Randal Myler, will feature short new works from playwrights and composers from across the U.S., and will culminate with a tribute to the great American playwright, August Wilson, who will be awarded The American National Theatre Arthur Miller Founders' Award.

The "Voices of America" program is inspired by The American National Theatre mission: To annually identify, present and celebrate the most excellent and distinguished new American plays and musicals with their original companies and creative teams at a theatre center in New York. The ANT seeks to renew interest and respect for live American theatre for audiences from around the world, by showcasing the work of America's nonprofit theatres and theatre artists.

The ANT Founders' Committee includes: Kevin Bacon, Blair Brown, Kathleen Chalfant, Elizabeth Franz, Victor Garber, Ben Gazzara, Zeljko Ivanek, Hugh Jackman, Julianna Margulies, Donna Murphy, Harold Prince, Marty Richards, and Monty Silver.

The American National Theatre Arthur Miller Founders' Award, named in recognition of the late American master who had publicly supported The ANT from its inception, will be awarded annually to an individual who has distinguished themselves by making a significant contribution to the advancement of the American theatre.

"Having seen and been so moved by Mr. Wilson's extraordinary plays, I am most grateful for the opportunity for our organization to recognize his artistry with our first ANT Founders' Award. His voice – like Mr. Miller's -- is an American original, but his plays and characters speak to that which is universal in every human being. We are honored by Mr. Wilson's support of The American National Theatre, as we are forever indebted to him for the overwhelming power and depth of his work. " Sean Cullen, ANT President

This event will help fund The American National Theatre Festival set for June 2006, in New York City. The three-day Festival will feature readings of six new works that have been originally produced by ANT member theatres during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. One of these six featured presentations will be selected for a full production in New York City during the fall of 2006. All ANT presentations will transfer to The American National Theatre as they first appeared at their originating theatre.