Ensemble Studio Theatre Honors John Guare with Edward Albee, Dick Latessa, & More

"All of us at E.S.T. are proud to be honoring John Guare as a distinguished member of our company," said William Carden, Artistic Director of the Ensemble Studio Theatre. "John has had an important impact on theatre in this country and inspired so many of us along the way. I hope the theatre community comes out in force to pay its respect to this extraordinary New Yorker, incomparable American artist and great man of the theater.

Already confirmed to appear and possibly perform at the gala benefit are Edward Albee, Dick Latessa, Anne Meara, whose son is currently performing on Broadway in Mr. Guare's House of Blue Leaves, George C. Wolfe, Jeanine Tesori, Bruce Norris and Jerry Zaks.

Director Jerry Zaks is the benefit chair for the May 9 event. Honorary Chairs are Edward Albee, Candice Bergen, Ellen and John Clarkson, Denny Denniston and Christine Thomas, International Creative Management, Bob and Jill Jaffe, Jujamcyn Theaters, Ann Sachs and Roger Morgan, Jerry Saviola/Grey New York, Dorothy Strelsin Foundation, Dominic Chianese and George C. Wolfe

John Guare's plays include Landscape of the Body, House of Blue Leaves, (Obie/NY Drama Critics Circle Award Best Play); Two Gentlemen of Verona, (Tony Award/NY Drama Critics Circle Award Best Musical), Six Degrees of Separation, (Obie/NY Drama Critics Circle Award; London's Olivier Award Best Play), Lydie Breeze, A Few Stout Individuals and A Free Man of Color. Screenplays include Taking Off (with Miloš Forman), Atlantic City (NY/LA Film Critics Award/Oscar nomination Best Screenplay) and Six Degrees of Separation. His awards include the 2003 PEN Master Dramatist Award; the 2004 Gold Medal in Drama from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the 2005 Obie for sustained excellence. He is a council member of the Dramatists Guild and co-edits the Lincoln Center Theater Review. Mr. Guare has been a member of the Ensemble Studio Theatre since 2005.

Ensemble Studio Theatre < www.ensemblestudiotheatre.org> is a not-for-profit developmental Theatre Incorporated in 1972 with two primary goals: to nurture individual theatre artists and to develop new American plays. Under the guidance of the late founder Curt Dempster, the theatre's membership grew from a core of 20 artists to a flourishing community of over 500 theatre artists of the highest caliber. Among them are winners of accolades and higher awards including Pulitzer Prizes, Oscars, Tonys, Emmys, and Obies. E.S.T. is a lifelong artistic home for its member playwrights, directors, actors, designers, technical personnel and administrators. Each year, the Ensemble produces over 300 projects, including readings, workshops, and fully produced mainstage full-lengths.