Elaine Stritch To Be Honored At LOVE N COURAGE Gala 2/9

Tony- and Emmy- winner Elaine Stritch will be honored for her "many achievements and humanity" on Monday, February 9 at the 6th annual pre-Valentine's gala, LOVE 'N' COURAGE hosted by Betsy Von Furstenberg at The National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South) with cocktails at 6:30pm, dinner at 7:00pm. Proceeds benefit the emerging playwrights' program at Theater for the New City, one of the last bastions for experimental and political theater in 21st century New York in the East Village.

Joining the list of previously announced list of celebrities who will turn out to salute Ms. Stritch on Feb. 9 are Barbara Barrie, Eli Wallach, Anne Jackson, along with Hal and Judy Prince.

The LOVE 'N' COURAGE evening will be co-hosted by Charles Busch and Julie Halston, who will be joined by Hal and Judy Prince, Barbara Barrie, Tammy Grimes, Fritz Weaver, Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson, Crystal Field and playwright Paulina Brahm, musicians Daniel Binelli and Polly Ferman, and dancer/choreographer Angela Harriell with her company The Love Show.

Co-host Charles Busch is the writer and star of such plays as THE THIRD STORY at MCC, opposite Kathleen Turner, as well as THE LADY IN QUESTION, RED SCARE ON SUNSET, and VAMPIRE LESBIANS OF SODOM, and author of the Tony Award-nominated play THE TALE OF THE ALLERGIST'S WIFE. In addition to co-starring with Mr. Busch in many of his plays, actress/comedienne, Julie Halston's credits include Broadway (HAIRSPRAY, GYPSY, THE WOMEN) and Off-Broadway (THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, THE MOST FABULOUS STORY EVER TOLD) as well as cabaret, film and TV, including the role of Bitsy Von Muffling on "Sex and the City."

This year's LOVE 'N' COURAGE honors legendary Tony Award-winner Elaine Stritch for her many achievements and humanity. Ms. Stitch is best known in recent years for her Tony Award-winning autobiographical show Elaine Stritch: AT LIBERTY. Her professional stage career spans over six decades, with highlights including Tony-nominated performances in BUS STOP, SAIL AWAY, COMPANY and Edward Albee's A DELICATE BALANCE, in addition to numerous film and TV appearances including Woody Allen's "September" and "Small Town Crooks," "Monster-in-Law," and the hit series "30 Rock."

Last year's participants included master puppeteer Basil Twist, The Wendy Osserman Dance Company, Ms. Stritch, and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Edward Albee, who was the evening's honoree. Broadway alumna Betsy Von Furstenberg serves as the head of the benefit committee, which continues to grow with each passing year. Past committee members have included Tammy Grimes, Myrna Duarte, Tim Robbins, and Eli Wallach.

Celebrating its 37th year, Theatre for the New City is a long-running bastion for new theatrical works. Often, talented emerging playwrights find themselves competing for funding with more established writers; Theater for the New City's mission is to offer "love and encouragement" to these struggling artists with its Emerging Playwrights Program, established in 1971. O. Aldon James Jr., head of The National Arts Club, has taken an interest in Theater for the New City's mission, and the organizations are working together to present this year's incarnation of LOVE 'N' COURAGE.

"Emerging playwrights are writers of great promise who have yet to fulfill their artistic goals, but whose visions are high," explains Ms. Field, whose Emerging Playwrights Program takes in fledgling and untried writers, offering a nurturing environment where new authors can flourish, and often realize their first fully produced work at Theater for the New City. Ms. Field notes that "love and courage are what a playwright needs to thrive in this field, and 'love and encourage' is what Theater for the New City does!"

The Emerging Playwrights Program represents 60 percent of the nearly 40 new plays produced annually by Theater for the New City, giving playwrights a professional forum in which to experiment and develop as theater artists, and introducing fresh ideas and energy into the mainstream of American playwriting.

Through the Emerging Playwrights Program, up-and-coming writers meet and have access to experienced designers, directors and performers. The emerging playwright is surrounded by dedicated professionals in an atmosphere of high standards and supportive collaboration. Theater for the New City has an open-door policy towards new work -- considering plays of any style, genre and political thrust -- and reading every script submitted. The company also produces and commissions plays by some of the better-known American playwrights such as Maria Irene Fornes, Rosalyn Drexler, Sam Shepard, Ronald Tavel, Amlin Gray and Harry Kondoleon.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning Theater for the New City is committed to developing and nurturing creative talent in the New York City area. Other programs sponsored by the Theater include the Resident Theater Program, Arts-in-Education Program, Summer Street Theater Tour, and, most recently, the Village Halloween Costume Ball. The Emerging Playwrights Program was founded in 1984 as part of the Resident Theater Program, and seeks to create a space where theater artists have room to develop new visions, free of commercial restraint and pressure. Past productions have included works that include song, dance, music, puppetry, poetry, and epic styles of drama, and have garnered 43 Obie Awards

LOVE 'N' COURAGE, the 6th annual benefit for Theater for the New City's Emerging Playwrights Program will be held at The National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South) on Monday, February 9; cocktails begin at 6:30pm; dinner at 7:00pm; followed by performances at 8:00pm. Tickets are $125. For reservations and additional information, please call 212-254-1109 or visit www.theaterforthenewcity.net