Photo Coverage: Primary Stages 21st Anniversary Gala Honors Susan Stroman
By: Craig Brockman Nov. 09, 2005
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On November 7th, Primary Stages held its 21st Anniversary Gala honoring Tony Award-winning Choreographer and Director, Susan Stroman at Tavern On The Green. On hand for the festivities were Nathan Lane, Charles Grodin, Karen Ziemba, Boyd Gaines and many more."At the Primary Stages Gala Benefit each year, we honor someone who has made significant contributions to the American theater. This is certainly true of Susan Stroman. Her awards tell the story of a brilliant career in the theater; six Tonys, four Drama Desk Awards, four Oliviers, eight Outer Critics Circle Awards, and two Lucille Lortel Awards, along with a record four Astaire Awards," says , Primary Stages Artistic Director. From the Best Musical of 2000, Contact, to her recent choreography for a full-length ballet for the New York City Ballet, Double Feature, has done it all. Among her Broadway credits are Big, Crazy for You, The Music Man, Steel Pier, and of course, The Producers. Other credits include And the World Goes Round, Frogs, and Flora, the Red Menace/>. Ms. Stroman has recently completed directing the film version of Mel Brooks' "The Producers," which is scheduled to be released in theaters December 2005.
The evening's special guest host was Charles Grodin. Primary Stages is producing his new play, The Right Kind of People, at 59E59 Theaters, beginning January 24, 2006. The entertainment for the Gala evening included Boyd Gaines, John Kander, Nathan Lane, William Ivey Long, John Weidman, Karen Ziemba, Jim Walton and Deborah Yates. to be announced. A silent auction held during the evening helped raise over $18,000.
Past honorees have included playwright Horton Foote and Primary Stages Founder and Executive Producer Casey Childs (2004), playwright/actor Harvey Fierstein (2003), playwright A.R. Gurney (2001), playwright John Guare (2000), songwriters Betty Comden and Adolph Green (1998), composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim (1997), playwright Wendy Wasserstein (1996), and playwright Terrence McNally (1995).
Past honorees have included playwright Horton Foote and Primary Stages Founder and Executive Producer Casey Childs (2004), playwright/actor Harvey Fierstein (2003), playwright A.R. Gurney (2001), playwright John Guare (2000), songwriters Betty Comden and Adolph Green (1998), composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim (1997), playwright Wendy Wasserstein (1996), and playwright Terrence McNally (1995).
Tony Award-winning Director and Choreographer, Susan Stroman
Susan Stroman amongst her many Broadway contributions
John Kander
Marian Seldes and Charles Grodin
Marian Seldes and Charles Grodin share a moment
Jen Cody and Hunter Foster
Terrence McNally
Susan Stroman is joined by Casey Childs
(Founder and Executive Producer of Primary Stages)
Richard Thomas and wife
Steven Zweigbaum and Jim Walton
Amy Irving and Richard Thomas
Amy Irving with Press Agent Tony Origlio
Thomas Meehan and Steven Zweigbaum
Thomas Meehan and Susan Stroman
Contact's Deborah Yates and Boyd Gaines reunite (Yellow dress and all)
for a performance of "You're Nobody (Till Stroman Directs You)
Karen Ziemba (who performed "A Quiet Thing") and Tara Young
who has served as Assistant Choreographer and Director for several
of Susan's shows.
Nathan Lane introduces clips from "The Producers: The Movie Musical"
Nathan then makes a presentation to honoree, Susan Stroman
Nathan Lane and Susan Stroman
Nathan Lane with Susan Stroman showing off her letter opener
PRIMARY STAGES in residence at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59 Street), was founded in 1985 with a mission to produce new plays and nurture the development of emerging writers. Now in its 21st season, Primary Stages continues to foster an environment where writers are encouraged to explore the scope of their creative vision. The company has been instrumental in developing the skills of hundreds of young artists as well as adding over 90 new plays to the library of American theatre by such writers as A.R. Gurney, Terrence McNally, Julia Jordan,Conor McPherson, Willy Holtzman, Romulus Linney, Donald Margulies, Melissa Manchester, John Patrick Shanley, Gen LeRoy, David Ives, Constance Congdon, and Mac Wellman. Working together with established writers has offered some of the country's most noted playwrights a home to continue the exploration of their vision. Over the years Primary Stages has received considerable critical acclaim as well as over 20t heatre and literary awards, including the Lucille Lortel, the OBIE, the Outer Critics Circle, several Drama Desk nominations, and three Audelco Awards. The Stendhal Syndrome, The Day Emily Married, The Fourth Wall, All in the Timing, The Old Settler, Missing/Kissing, When They Speak of Rita, The Model Apartment, Scotland Road, You Should Be So Lucky, Sabina, and Dedication or The Stuff of Dreams are among the many plays brought to national attention at Primary Stages and now being produced throughout the world.
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