Photo Coverage: Ensemble Studio Theatre Gala for Jerry Zaks and Jerry Saviola

Ensemble Studio Theatre (William Carden, Artistic Director, Paul Alexander Slee, Executive Director is celebrating a milestone – this spring marked their 30th Marathon of One-Act Plays – and the occasion was celebrated with a gala Benefit Dinner in honor of distinguished E.S.T. member Jerry Zaks and outstanding corporate leader Jerry Saviola. The Benefit Dinner took place Tuesday, June 24th at The Players Club (16 Gramercy Park). 

The 30th Marathon Benefit Dinner honors a founding member of the theater, director and performer Jerry Zaks, received EST's inaugural Distinguished Member Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field.The event also honored Jerry Saviola and Grey New York with EST's 2008 Corporate Citizen Award for decades of casting EST members in television commercials. The 30th Marathon Benefit Dinner gathered supporters to dine in the splendor of Edwin Booth's former townhouse, while raising funds to support this year's landmark play festival as well as provide general operating support of E.S.T.

Jerry Zaks most recently directed Chazz Palminteri's A Bronx Tale on Broadway as well as the acclaimed City Center Encores! production of Stairway to Paradise.He has received four Tony® Awards, four Drama Desks, two Outer Critics Circle Awards, on Obie and an NAACP Image Award nomination for his national tour of The Tap Dance Kid. 

Jerry Saviola is a Senior Vice-President and Director of Casting Services at Grey/NYC – a position he has held for the past twenty-five years.Jerry came to Grey from the Casting Department at Joseph Papp's Public Theatre, where he worked under his mentor Vince Gugleotti. 

Jerry Zaks

Jerry Saviola and guests

Jerry Saviola

William Carden (Artistic Director, Ensemble Studio Theatre) and Ilene Kristen