Photo Flash: Theatre Communications Group Honors Brian Dennehy at Fall Benefit

On Monday, November 9, 2015 Theatre Communications Group (TCG) hosted their annual benefit honoring actor Brian Dennehy and celebrating TCG's American Theatre magazine, at the Edison Ballroom.

American Theatre magazine's celebrated its incredible 31-year history. American Theatre is the nation's only general-circulation magazine devoted to theatre. Published ten times a year, the print magazine has a readership of 50,000 and the new AmericanTheatre.org garners over 100,000 page views a month. Special recognition was given to founding editor, Jim O'Quinn, who served as editor-in-chief for 313 issues, publishing thousands of articles and over 150 full-length plays. Their first issue featured cowboy-hatted playwright, Sam Shepard, on its cover while O'Quinn's final cover was graced by the cast of Hamilton. Under new editor-in-chief Rob Weinert-Kendt, recent issues have explored themes of gender disparity and disability advocacy in the spirit of TCG's commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The Gala's Honorary Committee included Ayad Akhtar, Eileen Blumenthal, Anne Bogart, Oskar Eustis, Quiara Alegría Hudes, David Henry Hwang, Taylor Mac, Emily Mann, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Suzan-Lori Parks, Bill Rauch, Sarah Ruhl, Roche Schulfer, Christopher Shinn, and Alex Timbers.

Actor Taylor Mac welcomed guests and introduced TCG's Executive Director, Teresa Eyring, who opened saying, "Thank you everyone for joining us tonight to honor the great Brian Dennehy, and celebrate 31 years of American Theatre magazine. "While we're grateful for everything that we've accomplished together over the past year, what really fires us up is what's possible in 2016-how can we move forward our vision of a better world for theatre, and a better world because of theatre? With your support, can we respond to a contentious election cycle by modelling a more perfect union through our Theatre Nation? Maybe that vision is too ambitious, but theatre people are born dreamers, and we know that when we work together, a lot can happen in a year." Next actress Jessie Muellerperformed "She Used to be Mine" from the Broadway-bound musical Waitress. Director and playwright Emily Mann, and director Anne Bogart, took the stage to celebrate American Theatre magazine, and introduced founding editor, Jim O'Quinn, who received a poster with all 324 American Theatre magazine cover images, from the his first issue in

April 1984 issue to his final issue in October 2015 under the new Editor-in-Chief position Rob Weinert-Kendt.

Board members Diane Rodguez (president) and Jon Moscone (secretary) then took the stage to lead what proved to be a thoroughly entertaining text-to-pledge campaign. Moscone came up with sample texts guests could use, including the crowd favorite "Brian Dennehy is HOT." Several patrons took Moscone's suggestion including "I am donating $10,000 because Brian Dennehy is HOT!" Dennehy's daughter, Dierdre Dennehy, took the opportunity to donate and politely disagree, "I'm donating to TCG and I do not think my dad is HOT!"

The menu included a first course of grilled shrimp with an arugula and endive salad; the main course a choice of filet mignon with bordelaise sauce, grilled asparagus, and roasted potatoes or miso glazed wild black bass with sesame ginger sauce, baby bok choy, and black sticky rice; dessert included a molten chocolate cake with berries and créme anglaise.

As guests enjoyed their dessert, Executive Director of the Goodman Theatre, Roche Schulfer, and actor John Douglas Thompson, rose to speak about the career of their friend, Brian Dennehy.

Nathan Lane brought down the house saying, "I am always asked who my favorite co-star is and I have to reply ... Matthew Broderick. But he was unavailable tonight so the award goes to you, Brian Dennehy." The Goodman Theatre Director, Bob Falls, presented the award to Brian, and in his speech he called him a "tireless actor, who always keeps challenging himself." Finally, Dennehy took the stage to a standing ovation, thanked TCG for his new honor, "theatre has always been my principal home and I feel greatly honored by TCG for what really amounts to a lifetime achievement award... I owe my reputation in New York, my theatre hometown, and to Chicago, a city with an artistic soul unlike any other, to my long and wonderful relationship with Robert Falls who I met at an early point in my career, and Roche Schulfer, and the Goodman Theatre-both of whom are, to me, essential parts of this award. To them and TCG I am thankful and grateful."

TCG's Managing Director, Kevin E. Moore, introduced the evening's last presenter, set designer Mimi Lien, who introduced the final musical performance "Socrates" from the hit show Futurity.

Tribute letters were included in the event's program from

Bonnie Bedelia, Keith Carradine, Steve Guttenberg, Helen Mirren, Michael Mann, and Lesley Ann Warren.Helen Mirren, wrote, "I send many congratulations to Brian for this award so richly deserved. His body is great, and his body of work even greater! He is an inspiration to us all, acting with

power and imagination to transport audiences of all ages." Steve Guttenberg, "Ever since we went to high school together at Chaminade in Mineola, I knew you would amount to something. Never in my wildest dreams when we played football together at Columbia did I think you would be a movie star and a Broadway legend. I truly thought that you would have a career in mail order dentures, but you proved me wrong. Brian, I love you and

respect you for how you have created a life of integrity and meaning. MOZELTOV my buddy, on this honor, you will always be my favorite alien." Bonnie Bedelia ended her letter to Brian, "I know old habits Die Hard, Brian... but please don't steal the silverware tonight."

The 2015 GALA EVENING was directed by Rebecca Marzalek-Kelly.

Photo Credit: Presley Ann/©Patrick McMullan