Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel Will Be Honored By Ensemble Studio Theatre, 5/20

The Ensemble Studio Theatre will honor two of Broadway's most distinguished producers, Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel, at its 45th Anniversary Gala, Monday evening, May 20, at 6:30pm at SIR Stage 37, 508 West 37th Street. Tickets are $500 and $1,000.

The evening, co-chaired by Philip J. Smith, Chairman and Co-CEO of The Shubert Organization, and Robert E. Wankel, The Shubert Organization's President and Co-CEO, begins with a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m and a live show at 8:00 p.m. directed by Stephen Edlund and hosted by Jerry Zaks, featuring an evolving cast of artists including (subject to change) Elizabeth Ashley, Candice Bergen, Norm Lewis, David Mamet, Kathleen Marshall, Michael Mayer, Pam MacKinnon, Chris Noth, Laura Osnes, Diane Paulus, Duncan Sheik, Daniel Sullivan, Frank Wildhorn, Michael Wilson and cast members of the 2009 production of Hair.

All proceeds will benefit the Ensemble Studio Theatre's new play production fund, including the 2013 Marathon of One Act Plays.

"All of us at EST are proud to be honoring two of Broadway's most illustrious producers, who have a record of producing many new plays and musicals that originated in not-for-profit theatres like ours." said William Carden, Artistic Director of the Ensemble Studio Theatre. "Proceeds support EST's own productions of new plays, which have increased markedly in the past five years with tremendous growth in box office revenue, greater recognition for EST artists, and a higher profile for our theatre. This tribute is fitting."

Benefit Host Jerry Zaks said: "Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel are two of the most inspired and relentlessly dedicated producers in the theater today. I also happen to have great personal affection for them both. And so I am thrilled that my first professional home, the Ensemble Studio Theatre, has chosen to honor them."

Jeffrey Richards is proud to have presented plays and musicals by the authors David Mamet, Tracy Letts, Harold Pinter, Gore Vidal, August Wilson, Eric Bogosian, George Abbott, Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater, Herman Wouk, Betsy Kelso and David Nehls, Matthew Barber, Herb Gardner, Peter Ackerman, John Logan, David Ives, Jess Winfield, Adam Long, Daniel Singer, Will Ferrell, Noël Coward, Neil LaBute, Eugene O'Neill, Barry Humphries, Michael Feinstein, Christopher Durang, Lucy Prebble, Alex Timbers and Michael Friedman, David Henry Hwang, Frank Wildhorn, Don Black, Ivan Menchell, George and Ira Gershwin, Dorothy and Du Bose Heyward, Suzan Lori Parks, and Edward Albee. He is equally thrilled to have worked with directors Joe Mantello, Daniel Sullivan, Anna D. Shapiro, Jerry Zaks, Kenny Leon, Michael Mayer, Kathleen Marshall, Michael Wilson, John Rando, Jeremy Dobrish, Ethan McSweeny, Warner Shook, James MacDonald, Adam McKay, Neil Pepe, Terry Kinney, Diane Paulus, Robert Falls, Tina Landau, David Mamet, Rupert Goold, and Alex Timbers.

This season on Broadway Mr. Richards presented Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee, directed by Pam MacKinnon; The Anarchist, written and directed by David Mamet, and Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet, directed by Daniel Sullivan. He would like to acknowledge Primary Stages, the Signature Theatre (Washington, D.C), the Hartford Stage Company, the Roundabout Theatre Company, the Atlantic Theatre Company, The Public Theatre, the Huntington Theatre, the Manhattan Class Company, The Goodman Theatre, The La Jolla Playhouse, The American Repertory Theatre at Harvard University, and the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, all of whom have originated many of the productions which he has been proud to bring to both off-Broadway and Broadway stages.

Jerry Frankel received Tony Awards for producing The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, Hair, August: Osage County, Spring Awakening, Glengarry Glen Ross, and Death of a Salesman (1991 production). On Broadway this season his shows are Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, The Anarchist, and Glengarry Glen Ross starring Al Pacino. Recent shows include Bonnie & Clyde, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, A Life in the Theatre, The Merchant of Venice, Race, Superior Donuts, A Little Night Music, Come Fly Away, Blithe Spirit, Desire Under the Elms, Neil LaBute's Reasons to Be Pretty, Will Ferrell's You're Welcome America, Speed-the-Plow, November, The Homecoming, Talk Radio, Radio Golf, Enchanted April, Gore Vidal's The Best Man, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, Jekyll & Hyde, and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

The Ensemble Studio Theatre was founded on the belief that extraordinary support yields extraordinary work. Through its unique collaborative process it develops and produces original, provocative and authentic new plays that engage and challenge its audience and audiences across the country. The Ensemble Studio Theatre's award-winning membership comprises 590 artists and ranges from distinguished, recognizable playwrights (Annie Baker, Jon Robin Baitz), performers (Lois Smith, David Rasche, William Jackson Harper) and directors (Pamela Berlin, José Zayas) to new talent. In 2009, EST was ranked #1 in NYC and #2 nationally by playwrights of note for its dedication to producing new plays (Theatre Development Fund's study Outrageous Fortune by Todd London and Ben Pesner). The company has presented over 6,500 plays since its founding in 1968. www.ensemblestudiotheatre.org