Photo Flash: Paul Szilard Celebration at City Center

By: BWW Dec. 19, 2007

On Sunday night December 16, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater honored its longtime impresario, Paul Szilard, at a pre-performance ceremony and post-performance reception at City Center, which also celebrated his 95th birthday.

Attending were celebrities from the theater and dance worlds. Szilard, who is, in addition, currently producing a 50th Anniversary World Tour of West Side Story, is exclusive international representative for the Ailey company, and has introduced it to 68 countries over the past 37 years. He was given a crystal award by Artistic Director Judith Jamison and praised by her and Chairman of the Board Emeritus Stanley Plesent for his loyalty and dedication to the company through the years.

Guests included many longtime friends: Chita Rivera, along with Tony Mordente (who will both attend a West Side Story reunion in New York this week) and their daughter Lisa Mordente; Liliane Montevecchi, looking terrific; George S. Irving; Donald Saddler; Tony Award-winning director/choreographer Joey McKneely (director of the West Side Story world tour, also Broadway's The Boy From Oz, Wild Party, The Life, Smokey Joe's Cafe); Jacques D'Amboise; West Side Story co-producer Michael Brenner, who flew in from Europe; lyricist Susan Birkenhead; Judith Jamison and many Ailey dancers.

Sharon Gersten Luckman, Executive Director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, made a toast, then there was also a multi-layered birthday cake and "Happy Birthday" sung.

West Side Story, which has won rave reviews throughout its tour in Asia, and is now selling out at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris through January 1, is produced by Paul Szilard Productions in collaboration with Michael Brenner for BB Promotions."