Dozens of Stars & Theatres Set for 12/7 ATW Grant Luncheon

The American Theatre Wing's Grants Program will honor its 2006 grant recipients, 53 New York City not-for-profit theatres that reflect the range of diversity of New York's theatres, at a luncheon at Sardi's on Thursday, December 7 at noon. 

As part of its longstanding mission of celebrating and supporting the very best in theatre, not just on Broadway, but in smaller, non-commercial venues, the American Theatre Wing provides funding to New York City not-for-profit theatre organizations to both honor and sustain their work. This year, the Wing will provide $132,500 in support to the 53 not-for-profit theatres. Throughout the 50 years of the program, the Wing has donated close to $3 million .

Kirsten Childs, Michael Cumpsty, Eve Ensler, Johnny Galecki, Dana Ivey, Byron Jennings, Laurence Luckinbill, and Barbara Walsh are among the luncheon presenters, while David Cale, Kathleen Chalfant, Olympia Dukakis, Michael Greif, Leslie Hendrix, Bob Martin, Joe Morton, Cynthia Nixon, Ruben Santiago Hudson, and Mac Wellman are expected to attend as guests of theatre companies being honored.

This year's recipients are: Abingdon Theatre Company; The Acting Company;   Atlantic Theater Company; Barrow Group; Cherry Lane Theatre; Classic Stage Company; Collaborative Arts Project 21; The Culture Project; The Drama Department; The Ensemble Studio Theatre; Epic Theatre Center; The Flea Theater;  INTAR Hispanic American Arts Center; The Irish Repertory Theatre;   Keen Company; LAByrinth Theater Company; La MaMa e.t.c.; Lark Play Development Center; Lincoln Center; Theater; Manhattan Theatre Club;  MCC Theater; Mint Theater Company; Mirror Repertory Company; National Alliance for Musical Theatre; National Music Theater Network;   New Dramatists; New Federal Theatre; New Georges; The New Group; New York City Center Encores!; New York Theatre Workshop; Pan Asian Repertory; The Pearl Theatre Company; The Play Company; Playwrights Horizons; Primary Stages; The Public Theater; Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre Company;  Roundabout Theatre Company; Second Stage Theatre; Signature Theatre Company; The Talking Band; Target Margin Theater; Thalia Spanish Theatre, Inc.; Theater By The Blind; Theatre For A New Audience; Theater For The New City; TheaterworksUSA; Transport Group; Vineyard Theatre; Vital Theatre Company; Women's Project and Productions; The York Theatre Company.

The American Theatre Wing is best known as the creator of the Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards®, which it presents annually with the League of American Theatres and Producers.  The Wing's other activities, dedicated to recognizing excellence and supporting education in theatre, include "Working in the Theater", now in its 27th year of telecasts on CUNY TV in New York and on other national cable outlets; "Downstage Center," a weekly theatrical interview show on XM Satellite Radio;  "Guides to Careers in the Theatre," a video series developed for schools and libraries; the Theatre Intern Group, a career development program for young professionals; and SpringboardNYC, a two-week college-to-career boot camp for young performers moving to NYC.  Visitors to www.americantheatrewing.org can view an archive of the seminars; the career guides and listen to "Downstage Center", all as free, on-demand streaming audio. Sondra Gilman is Chairman of the Board of the American Theatre Wing; Doug Leeds is President of the Board and Howard Sherman is Executive Director.