On Monday night, the National Corporate Theatre Fund held its 2009 Chairman’s Awards Gala at Cipriani’s Pegasus. The evening’s honorees included Oscar winner Jane Fonda, who has returned to Broadway in the play 33 Variations.
The irrepressible Elaine Stritch — who will appear this summer in the Paper Mill Playhouse production of The Full Monty — was on hand to present Fonda with her award.
Tony winner Swoosie Kurtz, one of the stars of ABC’s Pushing Daisies, presented the NCTF Achievement in Theatre Award to producer John Breglio.
The lovely Lauren Ambrose, currently co-starring in Broadway’s Exit the King, presented USA Today with the NCTF Corporate Leadership Award.
Actress Kate Burton, an Elliot Norton Award nominee for The Corn is Green, and husband Michael Ritchie, artistic director of the Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles, were the evening’s hosts.
Zach Grenier, who earned an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination this week for his portrayal of Beethoven in 33 Variations, was one of the event’s guests.
Earlier on Monday, Lynn Nottage celebrated winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play Ruined at Manhattan Theatre Club.
At the same time, some of the nominees for this year’s Lucille Lortel Awards, to be handed out on May 3, celebrated at Ruth Chris Steak House. Here’s Shrek star Brian D’Arcy James — out of costume — who earned an Outstanding Lead Actor nomination for his work in the Atlantic Theater’s production of Conor McPherson’s Port Authority.
Thomas Sadoski — currently starring on Broadway in Neil LaBute’s reasons to be pretty — and Annie Parisse were both recognized for their work earlier this season in Becky Shaw.
The ever-busy choreographer Sergio Trujillo — now represented on Broadway by Next to Normal, Guys and Dolls, and Jersey Boys — is a Lortel nominee for his work on Playwrights Horizons’ musical Saved.
Later that day, the cast of the acclaimed Off-Broadway revival of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town made an appearance at Barnes & Noble Lincoln Triangle. Here’s the show director and star, David Cromer, with Wilder’s nephew, A. Tappan Wilder.
Finally, on April 21, Cheyenne Jackson, Rosie Perez, and Bobby Cannavale announced the nominees for this year’s Drama League Awards, to be held on May 15. Much to his surprise, Cannavale received a Distinguished Performance nod for his searing work as Marco in The Gingerbread House, now playing at the Rattlestick Theatre.
