Nelson to Host Soho Rep Gala, with Dillion, Taylor, Etc.

Multi-award-winning actor/director Tim Blake Nelson (O Brother, Where Art Thou?, "The Grey Zone") will host the star-studded Spring Gala '07 for Obie Award-winning Soho Rep on Monday, May 14. The 2007 Spring Gala will be held at 101 Riverviews (101 Sixth Avenue, between Grand and Watts Streets - in Soho) with hors d'oeuvres and cocktail reception starting at 7:00pm; a show of preview works by some of today's most provocative Contemporary Theatre artists at 8:00pm; and a post-show penthouse party with skyline views at 9:00pm.

Included in the show will be excerpts from new plays by artists including: Pulitzer-Prize nominated Will Eno (Thom Pain [Based on Nothing]); Nick Flynn (Alice Plays a Little Game, and Alice Always Wins); Jenny Schwartz (Cause for Alarm); multiple Obie award-winning Mac Wellman (Bad Penny); and the Nature Theater of Oklahoma "one of New York's most talented ensembles" (Village Voice). Performances will feature luminaries from stage and screen including: Matt Dillon (You, Me and Dupree, There's Something About Mary); Lili Taylor (Factotum, Landscape of the Body), Joe Pantoliano (Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, "The Sopranos"), Multiple Tony Award-winning Lois Smith and many more.

The evening will also feature the announcement of the recipient of the first ever Soho Rep Dorothy Strelsin Playwriting Fellowship, supported by The Dorothy Strelsin Foundation.

The Spring Gala 07 committee members - who will be in attendance include: Edward Albee, Adam Bock, Olympia Dukakis, Eileen Fulton, Tim Furzer, Anne Hamburger, Buck Henry, Morgan Jenness, Joseph V. Melillo, Irene Ramp, Mark Russell, Mark Subias, and Mac Wellman.

Under the leadership of new Artistic Director Sarah Benson and Executive Director Alexandra Conley, Soho Rep is dedicated to cultivating and producing new and unconventional plays. They perform to one of the youngest adult audiences in New York City, with over three-quarters of its audience aged 18-35. Ms. Benson is committed to expanding programming, and is launching a three-show Mainstage this coming season, in addition to opening up the majority of the theatres celebrated Lab and development programs to the public: continuing to raise the national and international profile of Soho Rep.

Over the last eight seasons, Soho Rep productions have garnered six OBIE Awards, most recently the Ross Wetzsteon Award, four Drama Desk Nominations for their critically acclaimed production of Frankenstein, the Oppenheimer Award for Everything Will Be Different, and two Kesselring Awards for Melissa James Gibson and Mark Schultz. This season, Soho Rep presented Adam Bock's critically acclaimed, sold out extended production of The Thugs.

Catering is by Harry's Offsite Catering. The event producer is Ariana Smart Truman, who has produced fundraisers for many downtown New York theater companies, including The Wooster Group, Elevator Repair Service Theater, Radiohole, and Collapsable Giraffe.

Tickets to Soho Rep's Spring Gala 2007 at 101 Riverviews (101 Sixth Avenue, between Grand and Watts Streets - in Soho) on Monday, May 14 are $250-$500-$1,000 for individuals; or tables of 8 can be purchased for $1,500-$3,000-$6,000-$10,000. For additional information and tickets, please call 212-941-8632, x.203 or email gala@sohorep.org.

Photo of Lili Taylor by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.