Photo Coverage: Theatre Museum Cocktail Party

On Monday, May 12th Broadway producers Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley hosted an Ambassador cocktail party for The Theatre Museum in their Upper East Side home. Among the guests were William Walters (Vice President, I.A.T.S.E. Local 1 Stage Hands Union), Tom Cusick (President, 5th Avenue Business Association), Fumeko Eda (Live Arts Pacific), Masaki Fukiwara (Toho Productions), Jimmy Roberts (composer), Liz Lewis ( Liz Lewis Casting), Tajlei Levis ( composer), Barbara Fisher (Producer), Judith Ann Abrams (Producer), Helen Marie Guditis (President, the Theatre Museum), Basil Hero (Spectacular Ventures), Glenn Young (founder, Applause Books), Linda Masson Kingsley (theatre arts consultant), Caroline Winston (PR consultant), Dan Kulp (5WPR), Jimmy Passafiume ( Merrill Lynch) and The Theatre Museum staff and volunteers: Anne Kwiatt, Jannette Mina, Betsy Krouner and Jackie Wittman.

As guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, Board of Trustees members, staff and interested parties discussed the past and present work, as well as future goals of The Theatre Museum. Since 2003, The Theatre Museum has been dedicated to the mission of preserving, protecting and perpetuating the legacy of theatre. Currently functioning as a museum-at-large with programs and exhibitions in conjunction with several New York cultural institutions, including the Waterfront Museum, Federal Hall, Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Borough Hall and Museum of the City of New York, among others, The Theatre Museum provides a combination of educational and entertaining programs that highlight the past, present, and future of the theatre industry in America. In particular guests spoke with excitement about the current exhibition "Showboat 'Round the Bend!," being put on in partnership with the Waterfront Museum, Showboat Barge #79 in Red Hook, Brooklyn that highlights the history of the American showboat with theatre performance The "Direct From Broaday! Theatre Arts in Residence Program" this season features the upcoming concert performance of the original musical "Monstercano" by fifth and sixth grade students of Harlem Village Academy charter school to be held on at 6.p.m. on Wednesday May 28th .

Helen Marie Guditis, President of The Theatre Museum, released the names of the 2008 Honorees of The Theatre Museum Awards for Excellence, to be held in October of this year. In recognition of individuals and/or organizations that have made significant contributions to the life of the theatre The Theatre Museum will present awards for Excellence in Theatre History Preservation - Rick McKay produced the BROADWAY THE GOLDEN AGE program on PBS, and the Theatre Museum of Repertoire Americana in Iowa which preserves the history and heritage of America's tent and travelling performers - and Excellence in Theatre Arts Education, - Five Towns College - as well as honors for Career Achievement - Joe Franklin. The ceremony and dinner will be held to benefit The Theatre Museum.

Looking to the future, guests discussed the prospects for permanent exhibition space within the Theatre District, as well as partnerships with several theatre and cultural institutions throughout New York Everyone present agreed on the need to further preserve the theatre's heritage and encourage theatre arts education. With the hopes to expand into a permanent exhibition space, all attendees stressed the importance of maintaining the cultural and educational outreach programming The Theatre Museum has developed with an eye towards "lighting the future" of theatre history and education. T he evening closed with the guests renewing their commitment to and or joining in the work of the museum.

To get involved in the exciting and dynamic projects and exhibitions that The Theatre Museum has to offer or to learn more, please visit The Theatre Museum website at www.thetheatremuseum.org.

The Theatre Museum is a 501©(3) educational institution with a charter granted by the NYS Department of Education in 2003. Contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent permitted by law.