Estelle Parsons Honored Gala, Cherry Lane will celebrate its landmark 90th anniversary with a Gala event at the theater tonight, October 6, honoring three individuals whose contributions and connections to Cherry Lane Theatre warrant the highest recognition: the Academy Award-winning, Tony-nominated actress and Cherry Lane alum, actress Estelle Parsons; along with David and Elizabeth McFadzean, leading supporters and funders of Cherry Lane Theatre for the past two decades.
The Gala event will also feature appearances by Oscar winner Olympia Dukakis and Tony Award winner Judith Ivey - joined by a roster of other leading actors, to be announced - as they perform selections from plays produced at Cherry Lane Theatre since the theater first opened its doors in 1924.
Ms. Parsons' history with Cherry Lane dates back to 1962 when she appeared in three plays there: MRS. DALLY HAS A LOVER, WHISPER INTO MY GOOD EAR (both by William Hanley) and THIS SIDE OF THE DOOR (by Terrence McNally).For Gala tickets, contact Jaime Norwood at jnorwood@cherrylanetheatre.org or call 212 989 2020 ext. 26.
Cherry Lane Theatre is one of the most renowned theaters in the country, having produced a large succession of plays by nascent writers whose names have lent distinction to the American and international literary and dramatic treasuries dating back to the 20s: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Auden, Gertrude Stein, Beckett, Albee, Pinter and many more. In 1996 Angelina Fiordellisi revived Cherry Lane, preserved the building and detailed history, and founded the producing company Cherry Lane Alternative, creating a number of programs to launch the next generation of American playwrights.
In 2013, Cherry Lane Theatre was one of 29 international theatres to receive the 50/50 Applause Award, and has been nominated again this year for the past year's work which included four new plays by women playwrights as part of the Mentor Project, Cherry Lane's award-winning program that annually pairs an emerging writer with an experienced playwright for a season of dramaturgy, casting, rehearsal and a fully-staged professional production.
