Huntington's 2013 Spotlight Spectacular to Honor Judi & Douglas Krupp and David Cromer

Huntington Theatre Company will honor longtime Huntington supporters Trustee Judi Krupp and her husband Douglas and visionary Our Town director David Cromer with its highest honor, the Wimberly Award, at the 2013 Spotlight Spectacular gala on Monday, April 22, 2013. The event begins at 6pm at the Park Plaza Castle.

Huntington Trustee Judi Krupp and her husband Douglas chaired the 2005 Spotlight Spectacular and have been Huntington supporters for more than a decade. In honor of Our Town, the Krupps have issued the Make Our Town Your Town Challenge: a dollar-for-dollar match of all new and increased gifts to the Huntington’s Annual Fund up to $50,000. Burnt Umber, Judi’s company with partner Bill Gerber, was a producer of the Off Broadway production of Our Town, and she was instrumental in bringing the production to the Huntington.

“Judi and Douglas Krupp are champions of great artists in many realms, from the visual arts to theatre, where their influence reaches from Boston's non-profit theatre to Broadway,” says Huntington Managing Director Michael Maso. “They are the epitome of style, and their philanthropy extends from the arts to social justice. We are fortunate to count them among the Huntington’s family of great supporters and friends."

MacArthur “Genius” David Cromer’s production of Our Town generated widespread critical and audience acclaim during its runs in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, which were hailed as once-in-a-lifetime events and the Our Town of a generation. The Off Broadway run lasted more than 600 performances, making it the longest-running production in the history of the play. Cromer brings his innovative concept to the Huntington this winter to mount a production that features 29 local actors among the cast of 32. The production will inaugurate the Huntington’s use of the intimate, 250-seat Roberts Studio Theatre in the Huntington’s Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA and will coincide with the play’s 75th Anniversary.

“David Cromer’s new production of Our Town is at once reverent and ground-breaking,” says Huntington Artistic Director Peter DuBois. “His creative genius and innovative story-telling make him among the most exiting artists working in the American theatre today. I am so pleased that he is part of our season and that we’ll honor him with the Wimberly Award next spring.”

Huntington Trustee Susan B. Kaplan, who helped to establish the annual Spotlight Spectacular and chaired the first event in 2003, serves as Spotlight Spectacular Chair. Nancy & Mark Belsky and Liz & George Krupp chair the Leadership Committee. The 2013 Spotlight Spectacular, designed by Rafanelli Events will feature a cocktail reception, silent and live auctions offering unique items, a seated dinner, a presentation of the Wimberly Awards, and exciting entertainment. Further details about the evening will be announced at a later date.

The 2012 Spotlight Spectacular sold out and raised over $730,000 for the Huntington, including its award-winning youth, education, and community initiatives that reach more than 25,000 annually. Last year, over 400 guests honored Huntington managing director Michael Maso for his 30 years of leadership and were treated to performances by Broadway stars Stephen Bogardus (God of Carnage at the Huntington) and Yvette Freeman (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at the Huntington) and Maso himself.

The 2013 Spotlight Spectacular’s online auction will open for bidding at huntingtontheatre.org/auction in April. Auction items available last year included a one-week stay in Paris, a cocktail party for 30 with Doris Kearns Goodwin (Team of Rivals) and Richard N. Goodwin (Two Men of Florence); a Broadway get-away, and much more. Guests will also have the opportunity to “Sponsor-a-Class” in support of the Huntington’s Student Matinee Series.

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