The evening celebrated Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Helen Mirren, who is presented with The Jason Robards Award for Excellence in Theatre.
Mirren made her Broadway debut in 1995 at Roundabout Theatre Company in a Tony-nominated performance in A Month in the Country, and she is back on Broadway this season in The Audience.
The Jason Robards Award for Excellence in Theatre is named after the late Jason Robards for his longstanding relationship with Roundabout and memorable body of stage work. It is given to those who have made "an indelible impact on both Roundabout and the theatre world."
The gala began at 7 PM with dinner and a live auction, followed by a tribute to Mirren, directed by six-time Tony nominee Scott Ellis (who also directed Mirren in A Month in the Country). The tribute featured appearances by Jennifer Garner and Alessandro Nivola and performances by Laura Benanti, Alan Cumming, Santino Fontana, Victor Garber, Donna Murphy, Kelli O'Hara, Alessandro Nivola, Laura Osnes and Betsy Wolfe.
Gala chairs included Tom and Kitty Patterson Kempner and Johannes (Johs) Worsoe, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. Vice chairs are The Alec Baldwin Foundation, Bank of America, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Bill Borrelle and John Hearn, Michael T. Cohen, Colliers International NY LLC, Sylvia Golden, Kiendl and John Gordon, Jeanne and Tom Hagerty, Stephanie and Ron Kramer, Lisa and Gregg Rechler, Janet and Marvin Rosen, Diane and Tom Tuft. The auction chair is Sylvia Golden, and the auction committee consists of Wendy Barker and Monica Hopkins. Sydney Beers is executive producer.
The gala creative team featured Paul Gemignani (musical director), Derek McLane (scenic design), Don Holder (lighting design) and Brian Ronan (sound design). Clothing is provided by Carmen Marc Valvo.
All proceeds from this event benefit Roundabout Theatre Company's Musical Theatre Fund and Education programs, which serve over 15,000 students and teachers in schools throughout all five boroughs.
