Photo Flash: Sally Field, Rajiv Joseph, Phylicia Rashad and More at Lark Benefit Honoring Edward Albee

On the evening of March 10, 2014, Lark Play Development Center held a benefit entitled "A Transformative Moment, A Celebration with Songs and Scenes Honoring Edward Albee". The benefit celebrated Lark's 20th anniversary, Edward Albee's inspiring work and the power of playwriting. Scroll down for photos!

Board members, friends and supporters of Lark attended the sold-out event produced by Bruce Cohen, Academy Award-winning producer and director known for American Beauty (1999), Silver Linings Playbook (2012) and Big Fish (2003), and Lauren Rayner, a multi-media producer and storyteller. Elizabeth McCann accepted Lark's Risktaker Award on behalf of honoree, Edward Albee.

The night, emceed by Dick Cavett, featured short plays, commissioned specifically for the event, by Katori Hall (THE MOUNTAINTOP, HURT VILLAGE), Rajiv Joseph (BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO, THE NORTH POOL), Theresa Rebeck(SEMINAR, MAURITIUS) and Doug Wright (I AM MY OWN WIFE, GREY GARDENS), as well as original songs by Douglas J. Cohen & Zoe Samuel and Julian Fleisher & Kirsten Guenther.

Other celebrated participants included Sally Field, Phylicia Rashad, Heidi Armbruster, Griffin Birney, Dan Butler, Olympia Dukakis, Kamilah Forbes, David Henry Hwang, Arthur Kopit, Austin Lysy, Mercedes Ruehl, Jay O. Sanders andDaniella Topol.

Lark honored playwright Edward Albee with its Risktaker Award which recognizes the leadership, vision and commitment of an individual who has defied convention in making a major contribution to supporting daring new voices in the American theater. Lark selected Albee for his body of work that has inspired playwrights to embrace their own idiosyncratic visions and styles and for his many years serving as a Lark Playwright Advisor. As part of the tribute, Lark commissioned a short documentary about Albee's life and those he has influenced, which premiered at the event.

For more about the Lark Play Development Center, visit www.larktheatre.org.

Photo Credit: Michael Priest