Ralph Fiennes Awarded Shakespeare Society Medal, 12/9

The Shakespeare Society has just announced that Ralph Fiennes will be receiving The Shakespeare Society Medal at a benefit at the Rubin Museum of Art (150 W. 17th Street) on Friday, December 9, 2011.

Mr. Fiennes will be receiving the award in honor of his distinguished contributions to the world of William Shakespeare. Past recipients of The Shakespeare Society Medal have included Peter Hall, Trevor Nunn, Claire Bloom, Kenneth Branagh and Christopher Plummer.

The benefit will begin with a 6P reception, followed by an onstage conversation with Mr. Fiennes and the presentation of The Shakespeare Society Medal. The event is presented in association with the Rubin Museum of Art. Proceeds to benefit The Shakespeare Society's artistic and educational programming.

Well-known to film fans, Mr. Fiennes has also worked extensively in theatre. His classical work includes roles as varied as Berowne in Love's Labour's Lost, Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing, Richard II in Richard II, Caesar in Julius Caesar, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Dauphin in King John, Coriolanus in Coriolanus and Troilus in Troilus and Cressida. His formidable talent has graced stages at The Barbican, Royal National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Brooklyn Academy of Art and many more. In 1995, Mr. Fiennes won the Tony Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Hamlet directed by Jonathan Kent on Broadway. Mr. Fiennes recently portrayed Prospero in The Tempest directed by Trevor Nunn. This December marks the muchanticipated Weinstein Company release of Coriolanus, Mr. Fiennes' directorial debut in which he stars.

Founded in 1997 by Adriana Mnuchin and Nancy Becker, The Shakespeare Society is a multi-faceted, nonprofit cultural organization serving theatergoers, artists, students and teachers throughout New York City. The Society's ongoing mission is "to increase the enjoyment, understanding and appreciation of William Shakespeare's works through performance, commentary and educational activities." A fundamental belief of the founders of The Shakespeare Society is that enjoying and understanding Shakespeare begins in the classroom; therefore, a portion of the Society's membership dollars is used to support educational activities in
New York City schools.

For more information about The Shakespeare Society, please visit www.shakespearesociety.org.