Photo Coverage: Primary Stages Honors Samuel 'Biff' Liff

The annual Primary Stages Gala, a fundraiser benefiting the extensive artistic development programs offered by the company, was held at the Edison Ballroom last night, November 1, 2010. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below.

Funds raised by the annual event benefit the Einhorn School of Performing Arts (ESPA), Dorothy Strelsin New American Writers Group, PrimeTime Reading Series, commissions and workshops, and valuable arts education programs.

This year's honoree was the legendary Broadway Producer, Manager and Agent Samuel ‘Biff' Liff who received the Dedication to New Plays Award, which is given at the annual Gala to an individual or group who have made significant contributions to the advancement of new plays.

"Samuel ‘Biff' Liff is a living legend of show business," said Casey Childs, Founder and Executive Producer at Primary Stages. "In his seventy-plus year career - as a stage manager, producer and agent - few people have influenced as many artists. Primary Stages Dedication to New Plays Award has a tradition of celebrating those individuals, like Biff Liff, who have been significantly instrumental in the creation of new work."

Past gala honorees have included Patti LuPone and The Baruch-Routh-Frankel-Viertel Group (2008), Daryl Roth and Jack O'Brien (2007), Julie Harris (2006), Susan Stroman (2005), Horton Foote and Primary Stages Founder and Executive Producer Casey Childs (2004), Harvey Fierstein (2003), A.R. Gurney (2001), John Guare (2000), Betty Comden and Adolph Green (1998), Stephen Sondheim (1997), Wendy Wasserstein (1996) and Terrence McNally (1995).

Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter Keddy

Primary Stages Gala 2010

Honoring Samuel 'Biff' Liff

Michael Lavine Musical Director at reherasl

Brian Cassier (Bass) and Michael Lavine

Alison Fraser

Primary Stages Board-Casey Childs (Founder/Executive Director), Elliot Fox (Managing Director) and Andrew Leynse (Artistic Director)

Elizabeth Wilson

Casey Childs and Elizabeth Wilson

Elizabeth Wilson and Samuel 'Biff' Liff

Samuel 'Biff' Liff

Alison Fraser

Lani Sundsten and Manny Azenberg

Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez

Kathleen Clark

Tony Walton and Gen Walton

Samuel 'Biff' Liff and Chita Rivera

Tony Walton

Michael David

Robert Cary and Jonathan Tolins

Chita Rivera

John Glover

Marni Nixon

Michael Lavine, Bonnie Langford and Marni Nixon

Jamie deRoy

Willy Holtzman

Angela Lansbury

Angela Lansbury

Samuel 'Biff' Liff and Chita Rivera

Chita Rivera

Chita Rivera and Samuel 'Biff' Liff

Marni Nixon and Chita Rivera

Michael Wilson

Tom Viertel

Sara Wordsworth, James-Allen Ford and Kristen Anderson-Lopez

A.R. Gurney

A.R. Gurney and Elizabeth Wilson

Casey Childs and Carol Ostrow