Photos: Spring Gala 2019

On May 6, 2019 Playwrights Horizons honored the incomparable Lois Smith. We celebrated her prolific career as an actor who is devoted to her craft, and her deep passion for originating roles in new works. Her achievements were celebrated by friends and family from across the performance landscape and around the country.

Board Chair Judy Rubin opened the evening welcoming our guests.

Holly Boyington, Marin Ireland (Maple and Vine), Halley Feiffer (The Pain of My Belligerence), and Rebecca Henderson (Your Mother’s Copy of the Kama Sutra, The Whale, and The Retributionists) showing their support for Lois.

Raja Feather Kelly (If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be A Muhfucka), Stephen Brackett, and Larry Owens, took a break from A Strange Loop rehearsals to join us.

Larry Owens gave us an exclusive first look at the eleven o’clock number "Memory Song" from A Strange Loop by Michael R. Jackson.

Members of the Generation PH Leadership Committee: Robert Walport, Carol Skordas Walport, Katrina McCann, Carlo Steinman, Gala Co-Chair Nicholas P. Russo, Jason Wu, Aleksandra Szczepanowska, and Board Member and Gen PH Co-Chair Scott Slobodnyak.

Guests, including Citi's Richard Greene, flocked to Lois to toast her and celebrate her special night.

Crystal Dickinson (The Call and Clybourne Park) and Jon Michael Hill (center) celebrating with agents Steve Stone and Gregg Klein.

Judy Rubin, Associate Artistic Director Adam Greenfield, and Jordan Harrison (Log Cabin,Marjorie Prime, Maple and Vine, and Doris to Darlene).

Kirsten Childs (Bella: An American Tall Tale, and The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin) flanked by two cast members from Bella (Brandon Gill—left—and Paolo Montalban—right).

Carla R. Stewart (If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must be a Muhfucka) and Darlesia Cearcy, backed up by original members of the Bella: An American Tall Tale cast—Paolo Montalban, Brandon Gill, and Yurel Echezarreta—brought down the house with “Kansas Boun’” from Bella in honor of Lois’ Kansas roots.

Heather Raffo, writer of and actor in Noura, was reunited with her The Profane castmate, Babak Tafti.

583 Park Avenue did a stunning job lighting the Ballroom for the occasion.

Board Member Marisa Sechrest hosted a table of guests along with Heather Raffo, Kirsten Childs and Playwrights’ Marketing Director Kyle Sircus.

A perfectly captured moment during the video tribute to Lois showcases her film debut starring in East of Eden opposite James Dean.

Jennifer Bareilles (The Thanksgiving Play) and Board Member Sam Gonzalez emceed the in-room fundraiser supporting our Theatrical Fellowship Program.

Artistic Director Tim Sanford sharing his thoughts on Lois’ impact as an actress.

A small reunion for the cast of Marjorie Prime at Playwrights—Noah Bean, Lois Smith, and Lisa Emery (I Was Most Alive with You, and For Peter Pan on her 70th birthday).

Lily Thorne and Amy Herzog (The Great God Pan) came to thank Lois for her contributions in originating roles in their plays Peace for Mary Francis and After the Revolution, respectively.

Amy Herzog, Jordan Harrison, Craig Lucas (I Was Most Alive with You, Prayer for My Enemy, and Small Tragedy), and Michael Wilson applaud Lois’ profound impact as she approaches the stage.

Michael Wilson presenting Lois with her award on behalf of Playwrights Horizons.

Along with Tim Sanford, Amy Herzog, Jordan Harrison, Craig Lucas, and Michael Wilson, Erik Bottcher, Chief of Staff for City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, and Carla Hoke-Miller, from the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment surprised Lois. They stopped by to deliver official proclamations of her importance to both the arts community and to New York City.

Mare Winningham (Rancho Viejo and After the Revolution), who’s not only a past co-star but also a close personal friend of Lois’, performed Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” from Girl From the North Country.

Jonathan Hadary (Indian Summer and Assassins) impressed the crowd by accompanying himself on piano while he serenaded us with “Cecily Smith” from Fly By Night.

Board Member Vinnie O’Toole (second from left) with some of his guests.

Board Member Jide Zeitlin chatting with a guest.

Cheers to Lois! And thank you for sharing your art with us!

Photo credit: Lyn Hughes Photography