Photo Coverage: NFT 40th Reunion Awards Starry Gala Arrivals
By: Walter McBride May. 23, 2011
Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre (NFT) celebrated its 40th anniversary with a special Gala at the historic Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) last night, May 22nd. This special event saluting NFT, for 40 years a seminal force in Black Theater, was co-hosted by Randall Pinkston (CBS News) and Lynn Whitfield. Chairmen for the event were Laurence Fishburne, John Morning and Susan Taylor. The Honorary Chair was Dr. Maya Angelou. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities, and brings you coverage of the starry arrivals below!
In addition to celebrating NFT's vital contribution to the arts internationally, the Gala featured special awards for 13 individuals that changed the cultural life of our nation: Sidney Poitier, Ntozake Shange, Ruby Dee, Alicia Keys, Mayor David Dinkins, Imhotep Gary Byrd, George Faison, Amiri Baraka, Rev. Malcolm Boyd, Elizabeth McCann, Carla Pinza, Terrie Williams and Sylvia Sprinkle Hamlin.
Founded by Woodie King, Jr. in 1970, New Federal Theatre has gone on to international acclaim for its bold mission to integrate minorities and women into the mainstream of American theater by training artists for the profession and by presenting plays by minorities and women to integrated, multicultural audiences - plays which evoke the truth through beautiful, artistic recreations of ourselves.
Specializing in minority drama, New Federal Theatre has brought the joy of the living stage to not only the minority community living on the Lower East Side near NFT's home at Henry Street Settlement's Abrons Arts Center, but to audiences from all over the metropolitan area. NFT has provided emerging playwrights with the opportunity to have their works produced; it has brought minority actors, directors and designers to national attention and sponsored numerous ethnic theater groups and events. NFT's vocational training workshops continue to prepare minority people for employment in theater and related fields. Most importantly, NFT provides the multi-ethnic Lower East Side, as well as the New York Metro area, with theater of the highest caliber that relates to the interest of different cultural groups.
The impact of NFT is nothing less than extraordinary. Writers first presented at NFT are now part of the literary fabric of the American mainstream. Many plays attained national significance and reached much wider audiences by having been showcased at NFT.
The alumni list of NFT productions reads like a Who's Who of American theater, film and television: Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Debbie Allen, Phylicia Rashad, S. Epatha Merkerson, Jackee Harry, Laurence Fishburne, Dick Anthony Williams, Taurean Blacque, Debbie Morgan, Robert Downey, Jr. Garrett Morris, Lynn Whitfield, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Ruby Dee, Leslie Uggams, Samuel L. Jackson and many more.
Under Woodie King, Jr.'s stewardship, NFT presented over 280 productions in the last four decades including: For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf, What the Winesellers Buy, Reggae, The Taking of Miss Janie and The Dance and The Railroad. His directorial credits are extensive and include work in film as well as in theater. He has directed at the most prominent theaters across the country and has been the recipient of numerous awards from AUDELCO, The NAACP, Drama Critics Circle and an Obie Award for Sustained Achievement.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.
Atmosphere at the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Ruby Dee attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Ruby Dee attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Ruby Dee attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
David Dinkins attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
David Dinkins attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
David Dinkins & Charles Barron attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
David Dinkins & Charles Barron attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Gary Bartz attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Colman Domingo attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Colman Domingo attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Woodie King Jr. & Colman Domingo attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Woodie King Jr. & Colman Domingo attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
George Faison attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
George Faison, Ruby Dee & Pia Lindstrom attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Starletta DuPois & Ruby Dee attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Ruby Dee & Carmen de Lavallade attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Danny Glover attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Danny Glover attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Woodie King Jr. & Danny Glover attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Danny Glover attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Danny Glover & S. Epatha Merkerson attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Starletta DuPois, Terrie Williams & Danny Glover attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Tommy Hicks attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Kene Holiday attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Kene Holiday attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Thelma Hopkins attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Thelma Hopkins attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Thelma Hopkins attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Starletta DuPois, Ted Lange, Chrystee Pharris, Garrett Morris & Guest attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Ted Lange & Thelma Hopkins attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Ted Lange & Thelma Hopkins attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Ruby Dee & Spike Lee attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
David Dinkins, Ruby Dee & Spike Lee attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Pia Lindstrom attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Pia Lindstrom, David Dinkins, Elizabeth McCann & Woodie King Jr. attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
S. Epatha Merkerson attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Terrie Williams, S. Epatha Merkerson, Woodie King Jr. & Ruby Dee attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
George Faison & S. Epatha Merkerson attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Garrett Morris attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Garrett Morris attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Ted Lange & Garrett Morris attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Ted Lange & Garrett Morris attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Carmen de Lavallade, Carla Pinza, Woodie King & Garrett Morris attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Chrystee Pharris attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Chrystee Pharris attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Chrystee Pharris attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Carla Pinza attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Pamela Poitier attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Pamela Poitier attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Pamela Poitier & David Dinkins attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Ntozake Ahange attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Robert Townsend attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Robert Townsend attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Robert Townsend & Woodie King Jr. attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Glynn Turman attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Glynn Turman & Pamela Poitier attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Glynn Turman & Pamela Poitier attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
Terrie Williams attending the Woodie King Jr's NFT New Federal Theatre 40th Reunion Gala Benefit in New York City.
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