BWW Exclusive: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors Nathan Lane

Nathan Lane has created a wide footprint on American stage, film, and television and encompasses the ethos of the Monte Cristo Award - artistic excellence and lifelong commitment to theater.

Awarded annually, the Monte Cristo Award honors a theater artist who exemplifies Eugene O'Neill's "pioneering spirit, unceasing artistic commitment, excellence, and accomplishment." A groundbreaking playwright and the only American dramatist to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, Eugene O'Neill set his masterpiece LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT at his childhood home, the Monte Cristo Cottage, in New London, CT. Past Monte Cristo Award recipients include Meryl Streep, Christopher Plummer, Michael Douglas, Kevin Spacey, Hal Prince, James Earl Jones, and Wendy Wasserstein.

The 2015 ceremony will be held tonight in New York City. Following a day-long master class with Susan Blackwell, students of the National Theater Institute's Spring 2015 semester will join guests Matthew Broderick, Brian Dennehy, Cady Huffman, Theresa Rebeck, Susan Stroman, Hal Prince, Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen, Michael Berresse, and Jenni Barber among many other theatrical luminaries to celebrate Lane's contribution to the American theater. NTI students last saw Lane's work at the Brooklyn Academy of Music earlier this season when he starred alongside O'Neill Trustee Brian Dennehy in the critically-acclaimed Robert Falls' revival of THE ICEMAN COMETH. The production was first performed at Chicago's Goodman Theatre in 2012, Lane reprised his role as Hickey in the iconic and famously lengthy-this production running four hours and fourth-five minutes-Eugene O'Neill play.

Lane is currently on Broadway in Terrance McNally's comedy IT'S ONLY A PLAY, starring alongside Matthew Broderick, F. Murray Abraham, Stockard Channing, Katie Finneran, T.R. Knight, and Micah Stock. Lane made his Broadway debut opposite George C. Scott in PRESENT LAUGHTER, followed by MERLIN, THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS, Some Americans Abroad, On Borrowed Time, Guys And Dolls, Laughter On The 23rd Floor, Love! Valour! Compassion!, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, The Man Who Came To Dinner, The Producers, The Frogs, The Odd Couple, Butley, November, Waiting For Godot, The Addams Family, and The Nance. On television, Lane most recently held recurring roles on "The Good Wife" and "Modern Family." Lane has appeared in over 35 films including "The Birdcage," "Ironweed," "Frankie and Johnny," "Mousehunt," "Jeffrey," "The Lion King," "Stuart Little," "Nicholas Nickleby," "The Producers," "Swing Vote," "Mirror, Mirror," and "The English Teacher."

Inducted in the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2008, Mr. Lane has been honored for his work on stage and screen, including two Tony Awards, five Drama Desk Awards, two Obie Awards, an Oliver Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, two Golden Globe Nominations, and two Emmy Awards.

Learn more about NTI's acclaimed semester-long, credit-earning training intensives by visiting www.NationalTheaterInstitute.org and Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube (@NTIRiskFailRisk).