The Drama League would like to congratulate all the nominees, and to sincerely thank all the volunteers and supporters that joined us in celebrating this wonderful season of theatre!

Distinguished Performance Award: Nathan Lane

Distinguished Production of a Musical: Kinky Boots

Al Hirschfeld TheatreBook by Harvey Fierstein; Music and Lyrics by Cyndi LauperDirected by Jerry MitchellDaryl Roth, Hal Luftig, James L. Nederlander, Terry Allen Kramer, Independent Presenters Network, CJ E&M, Jayne Baron Sherman, Just For Laughs Theatricals/Judith Ann Abrams, Yasuhiro Kawana, Jane Bergere, Allan S. Gordon and Adam S. Gordon, Ken Davenport, Hunter Arnold, Lucy and Phil Suarez, Bryan Bantry, Ron Fierstein and Dorsey Regal, Jim Kierstead/Gregory Rae, BB Group/Christina Papagjika, Michael DeSantis/Patrick Baugh, Brian Smith/Tom and Connie Walsh, Warren Trepp and Jujamcyn Theaters, producers

Distinguished Production of a Play: Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

Lincoln Center Theatre/Golden Theatre
by Christopher Durang
Directed by Nicholas Martin
Joey Parnes, Larry Hirschhorn, Joan Raffe/Jhett Tolentino, Martin Platt and David Elliot, Pat Flicker Addiss, Catherine Adler, John O’Boyle, Joshua Goodman, Jamie deRoy/Richard Winkler, Cricket Hooper Jiranek/Michael Palitz, Mark S. Golub and David S. Golub, Radio Mouse Entertainment, Shadowcatcher Entertainment, Mary Cossette/Barbara Manocherian, Megan Savage/Meredith Lynsey Schade, Hugh Hysell/Richard Jordan, Cheryl Wiesenfeld/Ron Simons, S.D. Wagner, John Johnson, producers, in association with McCarter Theatre Center and Lincoln Center Theater

Distinguished Revival of a Musical: Pippin

Music Box Theatre
Book by Roger O. Hirson, Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Directed by Diane Paulus
Barry and Fran Weissler, Howard and Janet Kagan, Lisa Matlin, Kyodo Tokyo, A&A Gordon/Brunish Trinchero, Tom Smedes/Peter Stern, Broadway Across America, Independent Presenters Network, Norton Herrick, Allen Spivak, Rebecca Gold, Joshua Goodman, Stephen E. McManus, David Robbins/Bryan S. Weingarten, Philip Hagemann/Murray Rosenthal, Jim Kierstead/.Carlos Arana/Myla Lerner, Hugh Hayes/Jamie Cesa/Jonathan Reinis, Sharon A. Carr/Patricia R. Klausner, Ben Feldman, Square 1 Theatrics, Wendy Federman/Carl Muellenberg, Bruce Robert Harris/Jack W. Batman, Infinity Theatre Company/Michael Rubenstein, and Michael A. Alden/Dale Badway/Ken Mahoney, producers

Distinguished Revival of a Play: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Booth Theatre
by Edward Albee
Directed by Pam MacKinnon
Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Susan Quint Gallin, Mary Lu Roffe, Kit Seidel, Amy Danis and Mark Johannes, Patty Baker, Mark S. Golub and David S. Golub, Richard Gross, Jam Theatricals, Cheryl Lachowicz, Michael Palitz, Dramatic Forces/Angelina Fiordellisi, Luigi and Rose Caiola, Ken Greiner, Kathleen K. Johnson, Kirmser Ponturo Fund, Will Trice, and GFour Productions, producers

Founders Award for Excellence in Directing:
Jerry Mitchell

Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater:
Bernadette Peters

Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award:
Madison Square Garden Entertainment and The Rockettes

This morning we announced the 2013 nominees for Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play, Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Play, Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical, and Distinguished Performance Award at a ceremony hosted by Patina Miller and Michael Urie at Sardi’s restaurant.  The ceremony was streamed live at BroadwayWorld.com.

Now begins the exciting lead-up to the 79th Annual Drama League Awards, which will be held at the Marriott Marquis Times Square on Friday May 17 at noon.  The event includes pre-event cocktails and the star-studden afternoon luncheon ceremony hosted by David Hyde Pierce and Debra Messing.

First awarded in 1922 and formalized in 1935, The Drama League Awards are the oldest theatrical honors in America. They are the only major theatre-goer awards chosen by audience members – specifically, by the thousands of Drama League members nationwide who attend Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. Voting for members is has now closed.

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION
OF A BROADWAY OR OFF-BROADWAY PLAY

THE ASSEMBLED PARTIES
Manhattan Theatre Club/Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
by Richard Greenberg
Directed by Lynne Meadow
Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer; Mandy Greenfield, Artistic Producer

I’LL EAT YOU LAST: A CHAT WITH SUE MENGERS
Booth Theatre
By John Logan
Directed by Joe Mantello
Graydon Carter, Arielle Tepper Madover, James L. Nederlander, The Shubert Organization, Terry Allen Kramer, Stephanie P. McClelland, Jeffrey Finn, Ruth Hendel, Larry Magid, Jon B. Platt, Scott and Brian Zeilinger, producers

LUCKY GUY
Broadhurst Theatre
by Nora Ephron
Directed by George C. Wolfe
Colin Callender, Roy Furman, Arielle Tepper Madover, Roger and William Berlind, Stacey Mindich, Robert Cole and Frederick Zollo, David Mirvish, Daryl Roth, James D. Stern/Douglas L. Meyer, Scott and Brian Zeilinger, producers, in association with Sonia Friedman Productions and The Shubert Organization

THE NANCE
Lincoln Center Theater/Lyceum Theatre
by Douglas Carter Beane
Directed by Jack O’Brien
Andre Bishop, Artistic Director; Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer

OLD HATS
Signature Theatre Company
by Bill Irwin and David Shiner
Directed by Tina Landau
James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director

THE TESTAMENT OF MARY
Walter Kerr Theatre
by Colm Toibin
Directed by Deborah Warner
Scott Rudin, Stuart Thompson, Jon B. Platt, Roger Berlind, Broadway Across America, Scott M. Delman, Jean Doumanian, Roy Furman, Stephanie P. McClelland, Sonia Friedman Productions/Tulchin Bartner Productions, The Araca Group, Heni Koenigsberg, Daryl Roth, and Eli Bush, producers

VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE
LincolnCenter Theater/Golden Theatre
by Christopher Durang
Directed by Nicholas Martin
Joey Parnes, Larry Hirschhorn, Joan Raffe/Jhett Tolentino, Martin Platt and David Elliot, Pat Flicker Addiss, Catherine Adler, John O’Boyle, Joshua Goodman, Jamie deRoy/Richard Winkler, Cricket Hooper Jiranek/Michael Palitz, Mark S. Golub and David S. Golub, Radio Mouse Entertainment, Shadowcatcher Entertainment, Mary Cossette/Barbara Manocherian, Megan Savage/Meredith Lynsey Schade, Hugh Hysell/Richard Jordan, Cheryl Wiesenfeld/Ron Simons, S.D. Wagner, John Johnson, producers, in association with McCarter Theatre Center and Lincoln Center Theater

THE WHALE
Playwrights Horizons
by Samuel D. Hunter
Directed by Davis McCallum
Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director, Carol Fishman, General Manager

OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION
OF A BROADWAY OR OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL

DOGFIGHT
Second Stage Theatre
Book by Peter Duchan, Music and Lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
Directed by Joe Mantello
Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Casey Reitz, Executive Director

HERE LIES LOVE
The Public Theater
Music by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, Concept and Lyrics by David Byrne
Directed by Alex Timbers
Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Patrick Willingham, Executive Director

KINKY BOOTS
Al Hirschfeld Theatre
Book by Harvey Fierstein; Music and Lyrics by Cyndi Lauper
Directed by Jerry Mitchell
Daryl Roth, Hal Luftig, James L. Nederlander, Terry Allen Kramer, Independent Presenters Network, CJ E&M, Jayne Baron Sherman, Just For Laughs Theatricals/Judith Ann Abrams, Yasuhiro Kawana, Jane Bergere, Allan S. Gordon and Adam S. Gordon, Ken Davenport, Hunter Arnold, Lucy and Phil Suarez, Bryan Bantry, Ron Fierstein and Dorsey Regal, Jim Kierstead/Gregory Rae, BB Group/Christina Papagjika, Michael DeSantis/Patrick Baugh, Brian Smith/Tom and Connie Walsh, Warren Trepp and Jujamcyn Theaters, producers

MATILDA THE MUSICAL
Shubert Theatre
Book by Dennis Kelly, Music and Lyrics by Tim Minchin
Directed by Matthew Warchus
The Royal Shakespeare Company and The Dodgers, producers

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
Book by Berry Gordy, Music and Lyrics by Various Artists
Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright
Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris and Berry Gordy, producers

MURDER BALLAD
Manhattan Theatre Club/Union Square Theatre
Conceived by and with Book and Lyrics by Julia Jordan, Music and Lyrics by Juliana Nash
Directed by Trip Cullman
Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer; Mandy Greenfield, Artistic Producer

NATASHA, PIERRE AND THE GREAT COMET OF 1812
Ars Nova/Kazino
Written and Composed by Dave Malloy
Directed by Rachel Chavkin
Producers: Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Jeremy Blocker, Managing Director),
Howard and Janet Kagan

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL
OF A BROADWAY OR OFF-BROADWAY PLAY

AS YOU LIKE IT
The Public Theater/Delacorte Theater
by William Shakespeare
Directed by Daniel Sullivan
Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Patrick Willingham, Executive Director

GOLDEN BOY
Lincoln Center Theater/Belasco Theatre
by Clifford Odets
Directed by Bartlett Sher
Andre Bishop, Artistic Director; Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer

MACBETH
Ethel Barrymore Theatre
by William Shakespeare
Directed by John Tiffany and Andrew Goldberg
Ken Davenport, Hunter Arnold, Carl Daikeler, Cody Lassen, Joan Raffe and Jhett Tolentino, Julia Broder, Luigi and Rose Caiola, Michael DeSantis, Neil Gooding Productions, John C. Hall, Marguerite Hoffman, Ken Mahoney, Elliott Masie, Dean Roth, Bellanca Smigel Rutter, and Kat White, producers

THE PIANO LESSON
Signature Theatre Company
by August Wilson
Directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson
James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director

THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL
Stephen Sondheim Theatre
by Horton Foote
Directed by Michael Wilson
Nelle Nugent, Paula Marie Black, David R. Weinreb, Kenneth Teaton, Stephen Byrd, Alia M. Jones, Carole L. Haber/Philip Geier, Wendy Federman/Carl Moellenberg/Ricardo Hornos, Fifty Church Street Productions/Hallie Foote, producers, in association with Kevin Liles, Joseph Sirola, Howard and Janet Kagan/Charles Salameno, Sharon A. Carr/Patricia R. Klausner, Raymond Gaspard, Willette Murphy Klausner/Reginald M. Browne

WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?
Booth Theatre
by Edward Albee
Directed by Pam MacKinnon
Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Susan Quint Gallin, Mary Lu Roffe, Kit Seidel, Amy Danis and Mark Johannes, Patty Baker, Mark S. Golub and David S. Golub, Richard Gross, Jam Theatricals, Cheryl Lachowicz, Michael Palitz, Dramatic Forces/Angelina Fiordellisi, Luigi and Rose Caiola, Ken Greiner, Kathleen K. Johnson, Kirmser Ponturo Fund, Will Trice, and GFour Productions, producers

OUTSTANDING REVIVAL
OF A BROADWAY OR OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL

ANNIE
Palace Theatre
Book by Thomas Meehan, Music by Charles Strouse, Lyrics by Martin Charnin
Directed by James Lapine
Arielle Tepper Madover, Roger Horchow, Sally Horchow, Roger Berlind, Roy Furman, Debbie Bisno, Stacey Mindich, James M. Nederlander, Jane Bergere/Daryl Roth, Eva Price/Christina Papagjika, producers

MARRY ME A LITTLE
Keen Company
Conceived and Developed by Norman Rene and Craig Lucas; Songs by Stephen Sondheim
Directed by Jonathan Silverstein
Jonathan Silverstein, Artistic Director; Adam Fitzgerald, General Manager

THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD
Roundabout Theatre Company/Studio 54
Book, Music and Lyrics by Rupert Holmes
Directed by Scott Ellis
Todd Haimes, Artistic Director; Harold Wolpert, Managing Director; Julia C. Levy, Executive Director

PASSION
Classic Stage Company
Book by James Lapine; Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Directed by John Doyle
Brian Kulick, Artistic Director ; Greg Reiner, Executive Director

PIPPIN
Music Box Theatre
Book by Roger O. Hirson, Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Directed by Diane Paulus
Barry and Fran Weissler, Howard and Janet Kagan, Lisa Matlin, Kyodo Tokyo, A&A Gordon/Brunish Trinchero, Tom Smedes/Peter Stern, Broadway Across America, Independent Presenters Network, Norton Herrick, Allen Spivak, Rebecca Gold, Joshua Goodman, Stephen E. McManus, David Robbins/Bryan S. Weingarten, Philip Hagemann/Murray Rosenthal, Jim Kierstead/.Carlos Arana/Myla Lerner, Hugh Hayes/Jamie Cesa/Jonathan Reinis, Sharon A. Carr/Patricia R. Klaussner, Ben Feldman, Square 1 Theatrics, Wendy Federman/Carl Muellenberg, Bruce Robert Harris/Jack W. Batman, Infinity Theatre Company/Michael Rubenstein, and Michael A. Alden/Dale Badway/Ken Mahoney, producers

RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA
Broadway Theatre
New Book by Douglas Carter Beane, Original Book by Oscar Hammerstein II
Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Directed by Mark Brokaw
Robyn Goodman, Jill Furman, Stephen Kocis, Edward Walson, Venetian Glass Productions, The Araca Group, Luigi Caiola and Rose Caiola, Roy Furman, Walt Grossman, Peter May/Sanford Robertson, Glass Slipper Productions LLC/Eric Schmidt, Ted Liebowitz/James Spry, Blanket Fort Productions, producers, in association with Center Theatre Group

DISTINGUISHED PERFORMANCE AWARD

Alec Baldwin, Orphans
Danny Burstein, Talley’s Folly
Bobby Cannavale, The Big Knife and Glengarry Glen Ross
Bertie Carvel, Matilda
Tracee Chimo, Bad Jews
Lilla Crawford, Annie
Alan Cumming, Macbeth
Brandon J. Dirden, The Piano Lesson
Brandon Victor Dixon, Motown: The Musical
Jesse Eisenberg, The Revisionist
Edie Falco, The Madrid
America Ferrera, Bethany
Jake Gyllenhaal, If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet
Tom Hanks, Lucky Guy
Jessica Hecht, The Assembled Parties and Harvey
Shuler Hensley, The Whale
Bill Irwin, Old Hats
Judith Ivey, The Heiress
Brian d’Arcy James, Giant
Scarlett Johansson, Cat On A Hot Tin Roof
Judy Kuhn, Passion
Nathan Lane, The Nance
Valisia LeKae, Motown: The Musical
Tracy Letts, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Judith Light, The Assembled Parties
Constantine Maroulis, Jekyll and Hyde
Andrea Martin, Pippin
Rob McClure, Chaplin
Lindsay Mendez, Dogfight
Laurie Metcalf, The Other Place
Bette Midler, I’ll Eat You Last: A Chat With Sue Mengers
Patina Miller, Pippin
Amy Morton, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Donna Murphy, Into The Woods
Kristine Nielsen, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Jim Norton, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Seth Numrich, Golden Boy
Laura Osnes, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella
Tina Packer, Women Of Will
David Hyde Pierce, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike
Billy Porter, Kinky Boots
Lily Rabe, As You Like It
Vanessa Redgrave, The Revisionist
Chita Rivera, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Paul Rudd, Grace
Roslyn Ruff, The Piano Lesson
Stark Sands, Kinky Boots
Tony Shalhoub, Golden Boy
Michael Shannon, Grace
Fiona Shaw, The Testament of Mary
Ryan Silverman, Passion
Phillipa Soo, Natasha, Pierre, & the Great Comet of 1812
Tom Sturridge, Orphans
Holland Taylor, Ann
Cicely Tyson, The Trip To Bountiful
Michael Urie, Buyer and Cellar
Courtney B. Vance, Lucky Guy
Anthony Warlow, Annie
Stephen Tyrone Williams, My Children!  My Africa!
Vanessa Williams, The Trip To Bountiful

The Drama League also wishes to recognize the superb contributions to the season from previous Distinguished Performance winners, ineligible to win this award again.

Norbert Leo Butz, Dead Accounts
Kathleen Chalfant, Red Dog Howls
Stockard Channing, The Exonerated
Patti LuPone, The Anarchist
Bebe Neuwirth, Golden Age
Frances Sternhagen, The Madrid

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSICAL THEATRE

Bernadette Peters
Presented by Mary Tyler Moore

UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION TO THE THEATRE

MadisonSquareGarden Entertainment and The Rockettes
Presented by Tommy Tune

FOUNDERS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DIRECTING

Jerry Mitchell
Presented by Cyndi Lauper

UPCOMING EVENTS!

Next in our Industry Insider Series:

AN EVENING WITH PASEK & PAUL 

THURSDAY MAY 9TH, 7PM
BMI  STUDIOS,
30th Floor, 7 WORLD TRADE CENTER, NYC

Like Gilbert & Sullivan, Rodgers & Hammerstein and Lerner & Lowe before them, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul are one of modern musical theater’s most sought-after songwriting duos! Fans know the Richard Rodgers Award-winning team for their hit shows A Christmas Story and Dogfight on and off-Broadway. Pasek & Paul’s original songs are features on Season 2 of NBC TV’s Smash, as part of the fictitious musical penned by Jeremy Jordan’s character.

On Thursday May 9th at 7pm, join The Drama League at the beautiful BMI Studios (7 World Trade Center) for a lively and intimate Q&A discussion. Pasek & Paul with discuss their writing process and meteoric rise; play a few songs; and answer questions submitted by YOU to @dramaleague on Twitter. Come and meet the next big thing… Broadway songwriting darlings Pasek & Paul!

The event will be moderated by Drama League Special Events Coordinator, Kara Weisenstein. Drinks will follow at Lilly O’Brien’s Bar and Restaurant.

The event is free, but seating is limited. RSVP to audienceproject@dramaleague.org or call 212-244-9494.

The Drama League welcomes you to our new home  in TriBeCa. We have a bit more work to do before we can show you photos of the interior, but we are back in full operation as of today – so if you’re in the area, feel free to drop by and say hello!

Our new mailing address is:
The Drama League
32 Avenue of the Americas,
New York, NY, 10013
(don’t forget to include the Company name to make sure it gets to us)

Our phone number remains the same: 212-244-9494.

We are hard at work behind that big brass door, creating new and exciting programs and events for all our members and friends. Stay tuned for updates and announcements over the next few months.

The Drama League is also pleased to announce the 2013 Honorary Co-Chairs, whose standard of excellence truly embody the spirit of theatrical achievement. The 2013 Honorary Co-Chairs are Bobby Cannavale (The Big Knife), Alan Cumming (Macbeth), Edie Falco (The Madrid), Judith Ivey (The Heiress), Nathan Lane (The Nance), Judith Light (The Assembled Parties), Patina Miller (Pippin), Donna Murphy (Into the Woods), Fiona Shaw (The Testament of Mary), Holland Taylor (Ann), Cicely Tyson (The Trip to Bountiful), and Michael Urie (Buyer & Cellar).

The Drama League Awards pay tribute to the season’s best performers by including the nominees of The Distinguished Performance Award on a dais. The ceremony will feature more than 50 stars from the 2012-2013 Broadway and Off-Broadway season. In addition to The Distinguished Performance Award, The Drama League’s 3,000 members will vote on four other annual competitive awards: Distinguished Production of a Play, Distinguished Production of a Musical, Distinguished Revival of a Play and Distinguished Revival of a Musical. Nominations for these five awards will be announced on Tuesday, April 23 at 11:00 am and will be broadcast live on BroadwayWorld.com.

In addition, three honorary awards will be presented. Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters will receive the the Drama League’s Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award. Madison Square Garden Entertainment and the Rockettes will receive the Unique Contributions to Theatre Award, and Jerry Mitchell will receive The Founders Award for Excellence in Directing.

All proceeds from the luncheon ceremony support The Drama League Directors Project, the nation’s premier training program for theater directors.

Click here for more information about the Drama League event.

This month, the Drama League is moving to its new home, The Drama League Theater Center.
The center’s address is 32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10013. It is located in TriBeCa, at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Walker Street, on the lobby level of the former AT&T Building.

In order to prepare for this transition, The Drama League will temporarily close for business, beginning at
6pm on Wednesday, April 10th.  We will reopen at 10am on Tuesday, April 16th at our new location.  During this time you will be unable to reach The Drama League by telephone, and e-mail communication will be sporadic.  We apologize for this inconvenience.  If you have any questions or concerns about this temporary closure or our new Theater Center, please email mrosalky@dramaleague.org.

We look forward to welcoming you to our new home!

The Drama League is pleased to announce that Bernadette Peters, Jerry Mitchell and Madison Square Garden Entertainment and the Rockettes will receive The Drama League’s three Special Recognition Awards for their outstanding contributions to the American theater at The 79th Annual Drama League Awards on May 17, 2013.

Bernadette Peters will receive the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award, Jerry Mitchell will be honored with the Founders Award for Excellence in Directing, and Madison Square Garden Entertainment and the Rockettes will receive the Unique Contribution to the Theatre Award

Join us for The 79th Annual Drama League Awards luncheon at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square on May 17, 2013 at 12:00 pm. Tickets for the “best party on Broadway” have now Sold Out.

It is with a heavy heart that the Drama League announces the passing of its Board Member, Irene Halligan.  Ms. Halligan died in New York on Monday afternoon, March 11^th, surrounded by her daughters and grandchildren.

Irene Halligan with Harry Neyens at the 2008 Benefit Gala

Irene joined the Drama League’s Board of Directors in 2005 and was a vital and active member. With fellow board member Harry Neyens, she co-chaired The Drama League Awards Luncheon from 2006 to 2012. Under their leadership, The Drama League Awards grew to become one of the largest events of the theatrical season. Actor John Lithgow called the Awards Luncheon “the best party on Broadway”. She will be greatly missed by everyone at the organization.

In addition to her contributions to The Drama League, Irene was actively involved in the community, supporting many social service and civic enterprises. Irene was the former president of Interfaith Neighbors, a charity devoted to at-risk adolescents. She was a member of the advisory board of Creative Alternatives of New York, a program hosting theater workshops for the disabled and disadvantaged; and a board member of the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines & Airmen’s Club, a facility serving U.S. armed forces members, reserves, and veterans. Irene also served on the boards of America’s Camp Foundation, a camp program for children who lost parents or siblings in the attacks on September 11^th; Sutton Area Community Inc.; the West Point Society of New York; and The Gracie Mansion Conservancy.

In 1997, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani appointed Irene as Commissioner of the New York City Commission for the United Nations, Consular Corps and Protocol.  In this role, she worked closely with the State Department, welcomed foreign and domestic dignitaries, and represented the mayor at designated events. She held this position until 2002 during which time, in the wake of the attacks on September 11th, Irene personally escorted world leaders and foreign dignitaries to Ground Zero.

“Irene had such style and elegance, a great sense of humor, and was always giving and caring.  She was a bright star at the Drama League, and she will be sorely missed” said Board President, Jano Herbosch.  Beloved and respected by all who knew her, Irene has left an indelible mark on this organization and this city. The staff and Board of the Drama League send our deepest condolences to Irene’s family.

 
It was a night to remember! Re-live the magic of “A Musical Celebration Honoring Audra McDonald” with this small selection of photos from the starry night.  Click here to see the full album on our Facebook page.