Playwrights' Arena Announces The Recipient Of The First Henry Ong Award For Outstanding Leadership

Playwrights' Arena, the first and oldest theater dedicated to discovering, nurturing, and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights, is presenting its inaugural Henry Ong Award to Skylight Theatre Artistic Director, Gary Grossman.

The award named after Henry Ong, aquintessential Los Angeles, first-generation Asian American playwright who was interested in exploring the immigrant experience and conducted writing/oral history workshops in many L.A. communities as diverse as the city itself, recognizes an individual and/or institution for their outstanding leadership in the Los Angeles Theatre Community.

Playwrights' Arena Artistic Director, Jon Lawrence Rivera, says "the Board was unanimous in picking Gary for this inaugural award because of his long commitment to presenting plays with diverse, multicultural stories that reflect the people of Los Angeles."

Gary Grossman is the Artistic Director for Skylight Theatre Company. He was the recipient of Stage Raw's 2016 "Career Achievement Award." He started his career in New York owning two theaters and a theatrical lighting company by the age of 23. Gary worked at The Public Theatre, Café La Mama, and Sheraton Square Playhouse before traveling west in the 70's to join up with the emerging theatre moment in Los Angeles. He has produced over 300 stage plays, including more than 50 world premieres. Among his celebrated productions are Rotterdam ( 3 LADCC Awards including Best Production, selected for CTG's Block Party 2019) Church & State, Dontrell, Who Kissed the Sea (Steinberg/National Theatre Critics Citation), El Grande CIRCUS de Coca-Cola, Wrong Man (3 Ovation Awards), Obama-ology, Pray To Ball (1 Ovation Award), Years to the Day, Hermetically Sealed, Bullrusher, Sexsting, Mad Women (LA Weekly Award), Hostage, Romeo and Juliet directed by Milton Katselas (3 LADCC Awards), Dylan (3 LADCC Awards), AIDS/US Portraits In Courage, Influence, Open House, Dream Man, Balm In Gilead, Visions & Loverse, Beautified and La Ronde de Lunch.

The award will be presented at HOT NIGHT IN THE CITY, the annual Playwrights' Arena fundraiser gala, on Tuesday, April 2, 2019, at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, 4800 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027. For tickets go to www.playwrightsarena.orgor call 800-838-3006,

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