by columnist Wendy Gordon
“The particular thing about theater arts is that it doesn’t work without an audience.” So said actor F. Murray Abraham upon receiving The William Shakespeare Award for Classical Theatre at the Harman Center for the Arts Annual Gala and Gala After Hours on Monday night.
The theater’s artistic director Michael Kahn describes F. Murray Abraham, as “the embodiment of what every classical actor strives for: A model representative of the arts who has garnered critical acclaim on stage, film and television.”
The evening began with cocktails and an incredible multidisciplinary performance to the packed house in Sidney Harman Hall including the presentation of the William Shakespeare Award for Classical Theatre. And what a show it was.
Jerry Stiller Photo credit: Kevin Allen
Performers included operatic soprano Lauren Flanigan, actor Bill Irwin, the Paul Taylor Dance Company, hip-hop artists The Q Brothers, who did a rap version of Othello that was a show-stopper, messages from Abraham’s colleagues Kevin Spacey and Tom Hukce and iconic actor/comedian Jerry Stiller, who delighted the audience with his anecdotes and banter.
Bill Irwin Photo credit: Kevin Allen
Murray himself performed an off the cuff monologue from Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice that was, in a word, a masterpiece of thespianism. The show closed with a performance from Cabaret chanteuse and actress Christine Ebersole. Bravo!
Photo credit: Kevin Allen F. Murray Abraham
“The idea of people from my past have come to congratulate me is very touching,” Abraham said. It’s wonderful Jerry Stiller came all the way here for this—the idea they care enough to come and do this, it’s what everyone wants to have happen to them.”
Named among Washington’s top 20 benefits and galas, and rightly so, the Harman Center for the Arts Gala raises funds for the Theatre’s education and community engagement programs including the annual Free For All.
The Q Brothers Photo credit: Kevin Allen
Why is this important? Ticket sales cover just 60% of the production expenses and operating costs at STC. It is only because of Member gifts that they are able to bridge the gap and help ensure the future of classical theatre in America. We’re all for that.
“It’s a spectacular institution—the culture—classical theater –it’s so important—all the educational things that we do, said Michael Klein, Shakespeare Theater Chairman of the Board of Trustees. “We bring theater to high school seniors in the DC schools and charter schools.”
Post performance, guests were whisked by perfectly choreographed shuttle bus to The National Building Museum for hors d’oeuvres, dinner and dancing where Gala After Hours co-chairs Jason Kampf and Pamela Sorenson put on the evening’s second show. “I got involved with the Shakespeare Theater through Pamela’s Punch, and fell in love with the Harman Center–the space and everything Michael Kahn has done with the Shakespeare Theater,” Sorenson said. Kampf added he became involved through some members of the board. ”I began to understad more about their outreach, their programs, their education, and am working toward bringing the theater arts to a younger generation,” Kampf said.
Photo credit: Kevin Allen
Past Gala performers include the Joffrey Ballet, opera singer Denyce Graves, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, and Actors of the Shakespeare Theatre Company including audience favorites Floyd King and Ted van Griethuysen.
For more information or to donate to the the Shakespeare Theatre Company, log onto shakespearetheatre.org
