The Shakespeare Society to Honor Helen Mirren, Lily Rabe Next Month

On June 1 from 6-8 pm, The Shakespeare Society will host their third annual Playing Shakespeare Celebration at The Players Club (16 Gramercy Park South). The Shakespeare Medal will be presented to Dame Helen Mirren, and The Linda Gross Playing Shakespeare Award will be presented to Lily Rabe.

The Shakespeare Medal is awarded in recognition of extraordinary contribution to the appreciation of the Bard. Previous recipients include Professor Harold Bloom, Claire Bloom, Sir Derek Jacobi, Sir Peter Hall, Christopher Plummer, Michael Kahn, Richard Easton, and Sir Kenneth Branagh.

The Linda Gross Playing Shakespeare Award is in recognition of Linda Gross, and her enduring commitment to the theater, actors, and Shakespeare in performance. It is given to a promising young actor in the early years of their career playing Shakespeare, to encourage them to become honest guardians of Shakespeare's plays. The inaugural award was given in 2013, and previous recipients include Jacob Fishel and Hamish Linklater.

Ticket holders will join special guests for cocktails, canapés, a silent auction, and awards. The online auction accompanying the event will conclude at the end of the evening.

TICKETS are $150 ($113 tax-deductible) and can be purchased online at http://shakespearesociety.org/events.html or by calling (212) 967-6802. For additional information, contact Michelle Palmour mpalmour@shakespearesociety.org or (212) 967-6802.