Workmen's Circle Benefit Will Honor Tony Kushner

On December 10, The Workmen's Circle will present activist and playwright Tony Kushner, best known for his play Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, with its Activism and Jewish Culture Award at the organization's annual Winter Benefit-Setting the Stage for Change-at The Prince George Ballroom, 15 East 27th Street.

Host committee members are: Zeev Dagan, Mimi Lieber, Dan Opatoshu, Jay Sackman, Michael Shamalov, and Eva Zasloff. Honorary Benefit Committee members to date are: Adam Driver, Oskar Eustis, Andrew Garfield, Marcia Gay Harden, Nathan Lane, Debra Messing, Keith Mestrich, Mary-Louise Parker, Ben Shenkman, Stephen Spinella, Dame Emma Thompson, and Jeffrey Wright.

The benefit starts at 6:30 PM with cocktails and a buffet, features a special performance by Frank London and Lorin Sklamberg of The Klezmatics, and includes a short program and dessert. For more information on tickets, sponsorships, and tribute journal ads, visit https://circle.org/winterbenefit/ or contact the Workmen's Circle at events@circle.org. You can also contact Jaime Gorelick at 212.889.6800 ext. 821.

"Tony Kushner has never shied away from telling the whole truth, standing up and speaking out for communities who have been marginalized by those in power. At this time in our nation's history, his voice is a powerful reminder of what courage looks like," said Ann Toback, Executive Director of the Workmen's Circle.

"The Workmen's Circle's mission is to build a shenere un besere velt far ale- a better and more beautiful world for all-and Tony Kushner exemplifies that vision. We could not be prouder then to present him with our Annual Activism and Jewish Culture Award," added Richard Rumelt, President of the Workmen's Circle.

Tony Kushner's plays include A Bright Room Called Day; Angels in America, Parts One and Two; Slavs!; Homebody/Kabul; the musical Caroline, or Change and the opera A Blizzard on Marblehead Neck, both with composer Jeanine Tesori; and The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide To Capitalism And Socialism With A Key To The Scriptures. He has adapted and translated Pierre Corneille's The Illusion, S.Y. Ansky's The Dybbuk, Bertolt Brecht's The Good Person of Szechwan and Mother Courage and Her Children; and the English-language libretto for the opera Brundibár by Hans Krasa.

Mr. Kushner wrote the screenplays for Mike Nichols' film of Angels In America, and for Steven Spielberg's Munich and Lincoln. His books include Brundibar, with illustrations by Maurice Sendak; The Art of Maurice Sendak, 1980 to the Present; and Wrestling With Zion: Progressive Jewish-American Responses to the Palestinian/Israeli Conflict, co-edited with Alisa Solomon. Kushner is the recipient of a Pulitzer Prize, two Tony Awards, three Obie Awards, two Evening Standard Awards, an Olivier Award, an Emmy Award, two Oscar nominations, and the Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award, among other honors.

In 2012, he was awarded a National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama. He lives in Manhattan with his husband, and fellow writer, Mark Harris.

About The Workmen's Circle

The Workmen's Circle is a social justice organization that powers progressive Jewish identity through Jewish cultural engagement, Yiddish language learning, multigenerational education, and social justice activism. For over a century we have provided this 360-degree approach to Jewish identity-building. Through contemporary cultural programs, strategic social justice campaigns, vibrant Yiddish language classes, interactive educational experiences and more, we connect Jewish adults, kids and families of all affiliations with their cultural heritage, working to build a better and more beautiful world for all. Learn more at www.circle.org.