Theater News

James Earl Jones to Receive The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s Monte Cristo Award

James Earl Jones
(© Tristan Fuge)
James Earl Jones
(© Tristan Fuge)

Stage and screen star James Earl Jones will receive The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center’s annual Monte Cristo Award in a ceremony to be held at Bridgewaters – South Street Seaport on Monday, May 9 at 6:30pm. The prize is given to a prominent theater artist in recognition of a distinguished career exemplifying Eugene O’Neill’s “pioneering spirit, artistic commitment, and standard of excellence.”

Jones is currently starring opposite Vanessa Redgrave in the Broadway revival of Driving Miss Daisy. He has received Tony Awards for his performances in Fences and The Great White Hope, and a Tony Award nomination for On Golden Pond. Among his many other Broadway credits are Cat on A Hot Tin Roof, MASTER HAROLD…and the Boys, A Lesson From Aloes, Othello, and The Iceman Cometh. In addition, he is slated to appear in a 2012 Broadway production of Gore Vidal’s The Best Man.

His film credits include Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, The Great White Hope, Gabriel’s Fire, Malcom X, Coming to America, Field of Dreams, Clear and Present Danger, and Cry, the Beloved Country. He also leant his voice to the Star Wars films and The Lion King, among others.

In addition to his Tony Awards, Jones has received four Emmys, two CableACE awards, two OBIEs, five Drama Desk Awards, and a Grammy. He received the National Medal of Arts in 1992 for his services to American Culture and was an honoree of the 2002 John F. Kennedy Center Honors.

For table and ticket reservations or more information about the O’Neill’s Monte Cristo Award dinner, call 860-443-5378 x217 or email shendrix@theoneill.org.