Theatre Communications Group 2013 Gala

The Theatre Communications Group Gala was one of the most extraordinary and visually stunning soirees that I’ve ever been invited to. 

The evening was held at the famous Angel Orensanz Foundation located on the Lower East Side in New York. 

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for Theatre honored Ruth and Stephen Hendel and Ming Cho Lee at their gala this year. The evening celebrated TCG’s more than 30-year history as an independent trade publisher of dramatic literature and the authors and playwrights they publish. 

Cocktails started promptly at 6pm and dinner was served at 7pm.

Jessica Hecht was the host of the evening; the Gala co-chairs were playwright Lydia R. Diamond and interior designer Jasmine M. Keller. 

The Gala honorary chairs were Anne Kaufman, Obie award-winning director; Nelle Nugent, Broadway producer; Judith O. Rubin, chairman of the board of Playwrights Horizons; and Liz Smith, gossip columnist. 

The guest list included: Lydia R. Diamond, Michael David, Douglas Carter Beane, Teresa Eyring (TCG), Heidi Ettinger, Rhoda Herrick, Jasmine Keller, Tom Keller, Anne Kaufman, Richard Kornberg, Christine Lahti, Todd London, Iris Love, Kevin McCollum, Nelle Nugent, Judith O. Rubin, Jolyon F. Stern, Liz Smith and Doug Steiner.

The playwrights in attendance included: Eric Bogosian, Thomas Bradshaw, Ping Chong, Nilo Cruz, Will Eno, Melissa James Gibson, Jessica Hagedorn, Karen Hartman, Amy Herzog, Danny Hoch, Tina Howe, Quiara Alegría Hudes, Samuel D. Hunter, Tony Kushner, Emily Mann, Ellen McLaughlin, Richard Nelson, Lynn Nottage, Adam Rapp, José Rivera, Wallace Shawn, and Michael Weller.

The Gala Evening featured performances from TCG Member Theatres around the nation, which included three musical excerpts that were performed from Rapture from Sky-Pony: Raptured, Willow from Venice, and Hallelujah from The Last Goodbye.

I wore an elegant high-low royal blue gown by Aidan Mattox which I paired with black Michael Kors Berkley Leather Platform Sandals, blue vintage earrings and a golden ring by Anuja Tolia. My intention for the look was to go in a bit of a theatrical direction to pay homage to the evening’s theme. 

The Angel Orensanz Foundation was the perfect location for the TCG Gala. It felt like I walked into a dream like play when I first entered the venue and went upstairs to the cocktail reception. The view inside this 1849 Neo-Gothic Jewish Synagogue quite literally took my breath away. The venue was remodeled by a sculptor/painter named Angel Orensanz. In 1978, Angel renovated this elaborate landmark and created his own foundation that today still carries his name. The Angel Orensanz Foundation is home of displays and presentations for the visual and performing arts. 

The building is a replica of the Sistine Chapel in Rome and the very temple of Solomon. It’s quite possibly one of the most beautiful, unreal places in the world. 

If Jay Gatsby, the protagonist of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel The Great Gatsby was a real person and alive today he’d certainly throw one of his epic parties here.

Pillows adorned the decorative steps on the upstairs portion of the venue for guests to lounge on. I took a break from mingling with the evening’s fascinating attendees to finish my champagne and just take in the heavenly view in front of me. 

At 7pm guests started to trickle down to the dinner portion of the evening on the lower level. My assigned table was number 15. As I walked to the table I couldn’t help to just be in awe of where I was about to sit for dinner. 

When I found my table I noticed that each table setting had a name of the guest who would be taking that seat. You can imagine my excitement when I saw my name in print sitting among TCG’s most valued board members and other esteemed guests. As a reporter/blogger it was definitely an honor to have one of the best seats in the house.  

The table was brilliantly decorated with candles, purple tulips and books produced by TCG. Guests were welcome to take a book home. I picked up the Prelude To A Kiss and other plays by Craig Lucas which I’m excited to start reading! The appetizer was a mix of salad, potatoes and my favorite feta cheese.

Ming Cho Lee
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

One of my favorite speeches came from the evening’s honorees Ming Cho Lee, a famous theatrical set designer. He’s a recipient of the National Medal of the Arts, the highest national award given in the arts. His extensive credits include work in opera, dance and theatre. Despite his overwhelming achievements Mr. Lee was one of the most humble human beings that I’ve ever seen give an acceptance speech.  

Jay Armstrong Johnson
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

The night was full of phenomenal performances. The most memorable for me was Hallelujah from The Last Goodbye which was performed by lead singer Jay Armstrong Johnson with supporting vocals from Michael Castillejos, Rachael Duddy, Luke Marinkovich, Hannah Shankman, Megan Stern and Hannah Whitney. 

The main course of the evening was delicious chicken with olives and thinly sliced potatoes. 

Dessert I believe was flan but I could be wrong. Either way it was quite divine and the perfect compliment to such a wonderful appetizer and main course. 

In true theatre style departing guests were given flowers as they left the gala. 

It was such a pleasure and honor to join 200 guests that evening to support the many talented individuals of Theatre and raise funds for TCG. 

For more information about the Theatre Communications Group, visit www.tcg.org.

Maria Dizzia, Will Eno, Teresa Eyring
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Lydia Diamond, Paul Oakley Stovall, Jose Rivera
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Hannah Shankman, Lauren Fitzgerald, Preston Whiteway
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Lauren Fitzgerald, Preston Whiteway
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Jay Armstrong Johnson
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Jay Armstrong Johnson
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Liz Smith, Jessica Hecht
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Victoria Platt, Jennifer Damiano
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Emily Mann
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Richard Nelson
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Ruth Hendel, Stephen Hendel
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Eric Bogosian, Quiara Alegria Hudes
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Bridgid Coulter, Marshall Jones, Chantal Jean-Pierre, Lydia Diamond, Olga Sanchez
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Paula Black, Ralph Bryan
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Terry Nemeth, Ming Cho Lee, Betsy Lee
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Alissa Hendel, Sam Hendel
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Maria Dizzia, Kevin Moriarty
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Tim Sanford, Judy Rubin
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Margo Lyon, Tony Kushner
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Tony Kushner, Teresa Eyring
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Terry Nemeth, Tony Kushner
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Tony Kushner
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Terry Nemeth, Teresa Eyring
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Jasmine Keller, Lydia Diamond
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Jessica Hecht
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Bob Haiman, Quiara Alegria Hudes, Tom Keller
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Win Neuger, Judy Lynn Prince
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Tom Keller, Victoria Keller, Win Neuger
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Rolise Rachel
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Jasmine Keller, Dafina McMillan
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Jasmine Keller, Kevin Bitterman, Dafina McMillan
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Jasmine Keller, Kevin Bitterman
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Christine Lahti, Philip Himberg
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Philip Himberg, Claybourne Elder, Michael Porto, Eric Rosen
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Gail Bryan, Ralph Bryan
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Delphine de Causans
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Bob Haiman, Judy Lynn Prince
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Dafina McMillan, Diane Rodriguez, Olga Sanchez
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Tom Keller, Lydia Diamond, Oskar Eustis, Jasmine Keller, Victoria Keller
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

TCG Playwrights
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Jasmine Keller, Teresa Eyring, Lydia Diamond
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Ming Cho Lee
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Terry Nemeth
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Liz Smith, Jessica Hecht
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Christine Lahti, Liz Smith
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Teresa Eyring, Anne Kaufman, Christine Lahti, Liz Smith, Jessica Hecht
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Christine Lahti, Jessica Hecht
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Mark Cuddy, Jasmine Keller, Joe Haj, Teresa Eyring, Lydia Diamond, Dawn Chiang, Tim Jennings
Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company

Photo Credit: Jonathan Ziegler/ Patrick McMullan Company