The Vineyard Theatre Rose to the Occasion

Anika Noni Rose, Nathan Lane, Marcia Gay Harden, Charles Grodin, Lucie Arnaz, Kate Mulgrew, Judy Kuhn, Veanne Cox and more help the Vineyard honor the legendary Marian Seldes.

By Tristan Fuge,Brian Scott Lipton • Feb 10, 2009 • New York City

On Monday night, the Vineyard Theatre held its annual benefit at the Rainbow Room. Executive director Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell (left) and artistic director Douglas Aibel posed with the evening's honoree, the legendary actress Marian Seldes.

Tony Award winner Nathan Lane, who will return to Broadway this season in Waiting for Godot, hosted the gala.

Tony winner and Dreamgirls star Anika Noni Rose was the evening's star entertainer.

Vineyard Board member Judy Kuhn -- who starred with Rose in the Vineyard's award-winning musical Eli's Comin' -- was one of the many supporters on hand for the event.

Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden, soon to star on Broadway in Yazmina Reza's God of Carnage, participated in the event.

Vineyard favorite Veanne Cox, who will star next Monday in Project Shaw's Buoyant Billions, was another participant.

Seldes' great friend and frequent co-star Brian Murray -- soon to return to Broadway in Mary Stuart -- was a very welcome addition to the event.

Rebecca Naomi Jones, McKenzie Frye, and Angela Grovey -- who starred as the "3 Fates" in the Vineyard's recent production of Wig Out! -- entertained the crowd.

Here's Susan Blackwell, one of the stars and creators of the Vineyard's megahit [title of show], which played on Broadway earlier this season.

Blackwell's co-stars and co-authors Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen were also on hand for the gala.

The hilarious Charles Grodin made a special appearance.

Kate Mulgrew, who finished her run on Sunday night in the Broadway revival of Equus, looked positively smashing.

Daytime drama favorite Noelle Beck, who currently plays Lily Snyder on CBS' As The World Turns, was a glamorous presence.

Real-life couple Annie Parisse, who gives a brilliant performance in the title role of Second Stage's Becky Shaw, and Paul Sparks, who is starring in the Roundabout's revival of Hedda Gabler, were also on hand.

Finally, here's another wonderful theatrical couple: Lucie Arnaz and Laurence Luckinbill.

For information on The Vineyard's current show, This Beautiful City, click here.