Feature: The Real MVPs! – A VIP Reception at the Drama League Awards

On Friday, May 20, 2022, 1 hour in advance of the Drama League Awards, Board President Bonnie Comley, Kirk Iwanowski, Mary Jain, and the Board Hosted a VIP Reception at the Drama League Awards ideal upcoming to the Ziegfeld Ballroom. Whilst the Drama League Distinguished Performance nominees were being lining up for the dais, a cocktail social gathering was in comprehensive swing in the adjacent ballroom.

It was a Who’s Who of award-profitable producers together with James L. Nederlander, John Gore, Stewart F. Lane, Nelle Nugent, Fran Weissler, Nick Scandalios, Andre Bishop, Oskar Eustis, Kevin McCollum, Jill Furman, Chris Harper, Lia Vollack, Barry Grove, Carole Rothman, Sydney Beers, Luigi Caiola, Riki Kane Larimer, Wendy Federman, Stephen Byrd, Doug Denoff, Alia Jones Harvey, Tom Kirdahy, Ken Davenport, Jenna Segal, Jane Bergere, Gabrielle Palitz, Judy Abrams, Neal Rubinstein, Kenneth Keaton, Kate Horton, Mara Isaac, Catherine Schreiber, Travis Lemont Ballenger, Margot Astrachan, and Hunter Arnold.

Other behind the scenes theater and industry VIPs and pals incorporated Frank DiLella (Awards host and Emmy profitable television individuality ), Laura Michele Talbot (American Theater Wing), Joe Benincasa (Leisure Group Fund), Melissa Farber (BroadwayHD), Carin Chadow (Town Nationwide Financial institution), Rebecca Shalam (HUG NFTs), Darin Oduyoye (JP Morgan Future Checklist), Doug Reside ( NYPL Billy Rose Theatre Division), Scott Schwartz (Bay Road Theater), Tracy Mitchell (Bay Avenue Theater), Gary Hygom (Suffolk Theater), Nicole Rosky (BroadwayWorld), Susan Lee (Broadway Education and learning Alliance), Amy Herman Schechter (Nest Seekers), Matt Schechter (NYC & Co), Andrea Grover (Guild Hall), CeCe Black (Whidden Black, Co), Greg Rohan (Heritage Auctions), Danielle Allen (BroadwayHD), Ellie Heyman (Administrators Task Alumnae), John Rando (Direcotrs Venture Alumna), Margo Nederlander, Howard Rudominer (Drama League NAC), Lynn Notage (Playwright), Charmayne Strayhorn (Myles Frost’s mom who posted his dancing movies online and he acquired the career – thanks, Mom!), Warren Carlyle (choreographer), Lear deBessonet (Director Project alumnae), Todd Haimes (Roundabout), Joe Machota (CAA), Susan Lang (Drama League NAC), Gio Messale (BoradwayHD), Rick Miramontez (DKC/O&M), Catalin Stelian (Catalin Media), Annette Pfister (Drama League) and Nick Falzon (Disney Theatrical).

The Drama League Board Members consist of Bonnie Comley, Joe Pizza, Arthur Pober, Donna Daniels, Tony Benton, Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Bevin Ross, Elena Araoz, Estefania Fadul, Leslie Feldman, Irene Gandy, Sarah Hutton, Kirk Iwanowski, Una Jackman, mary Jain, Paula Kaminsky Davis, Gwynn MacDonald, Stan Ponte, Townsend Teague, John Alan Turner, Nicole A. Watson, and Kumiko Yoshii,

Proceeds from the Drama League Awards go to funding The Drama League’s The Directors Challenge. The 2022 Administrators Challenge stage directors who will receive fellowships, assistantships, and residencies are NJ Agwuna, Jean Carlo Yunén Aróstegui, Jennifer Chang, Andrew Coopman, Justin Emeka, Nadia Guevara, Emily Hartford, Susanna Jaramillo, Ibi Owolabi, Logan Gabrielle Schulman, Noam Shapiro, Jessica Natalie Smith, and Kendra Ware. A number of of these recipients have been in attendance to acquire a official introduction at the Ziegfeld Ballroom.

The VIP reception was adopted by the award ceremony hosted by Frank DiLella and honored Willette Murphy Klausner, Liliana Blain-Cruz, Hugh Jackman, and Billy Crystal. The ceremony opened with remarks from Bonnie Comley, Govt Director, Bevin Ross, and Inventive Director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks. The awards were offered all through a luncheon which permitted all the Drama League Distinguished Efficiency nominees to give short, heartfelt remarks about their operate and professions. The afternoon was personal, whole of laughter, tears, respect, and celebration of life in the theater.

To master more about The Drama League, and for a total listing of winners and nominees, go to www.DramaLeague.org

Pics: Eugene Gologursky