Innovative Theatre Foundation Celebrates Charles Busch Tonight

The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation, the organization dedicated to celebrating Off-Off-Broadway, is pleased to recognize Charles Busch with the 2011 Innovative Theatre Luminary Award at their benefit CABARETION 2.0! [KA-ba-'RAY-sh-un !], noun - The fusion of contribution, performance, and celebration of the Off-Off-Broadway community.

Join them on Monday, June 27, 2011 from 6 - 9 pm at Therapy?s upstairs lounge, 348 West 52nd Street, at a performance to benefit The Innovative Theatre Foundation. Tickets begin at $40 per guest and can be purchased at www.nyitawards.com/shop.

In a special presentation by Julie Halston, the 2011 Innovative Theatre Luminary Award will be presented to Charles Busch. A luminary is someone who is an inspiration to others and has achieved eminence in their field.

As an Off-Off-Broadway alumnus, Busch knows the challenges that face artists in this sector. Busch was one of the founders of the legendary OOB company Theatre In Limbo in the 1980?s, where he honed his skills on such plays as Sleeping Beauty or Coma and Psycho Beach Party. It was the Theatre In Limbo?s production of Vampire Lesbians of Sodom that first propelled Busch into the lime light. While he has reached great success, he continues to be a part of the OOB community. He was the first host for the Innovative Theatre Awards in 2006, celebrating the Off-Off-Broadway community and his roots. His productions of Shanghai Moon (1999) and The Divine Sister (2010) both premiered at the OOB house, Theatre for a New City. His dedication, generosity and numerous talents continue to be an inspiration to his fellow artists.

"I'm enormously touched to be recognized by the Innovative Theatre Awards,? says Mr. Busch. ?From the beginning, my career has taken me on a twisted and frequently fascinating back road. I'm delighted if my experience has in some way illuminated that path for young artists to travel."

The $40 ticket includes:
The special award presentation
Cabaret performance
1 hour of passed hors d'oeuvres
3 hours of open beer & wine bar

CABARETION 2.0!
Monday, June 27, 2011
6pm to 9pm
At Therapy - The Upstairs Lounge
348 West 52nd Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues)

Tickets begin at $40 per guest and can be purchased at www.nyitawards.com/shop.

Charles Busch is the author and star of such plays as The Lady in Question, Red Scare on Sunset and Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, which ran five years and is one of the longest running plays in Off-Broadway history. His play The Tale of the Allergist?s Wife ran for 777 performances on Broadway and won Mr. Busch the Outer Circle Critics John Gassner Award and received a Tony nomination for Best Play. He wrote and starred in the film versions of his plays, Psycho Beach Party and Die Mommie Die, the latter of which won him the Best Performance Award at the Sundance Film Festival. In 2003, Mr. Busch received a special Drama Desk Award for career achievement as both performer and playwright. Mr. Busch made his directorial debut with the film A Very Serious Person, which premiered at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival, where it won an honorable mention. He is also the subject of the documentary film The Lady in Question is Charles Busch. His latest play The Third Story was produced in 2009 by MCC at the Lortel Theatre.

Julie Halston is most recognized as Bitsy Von Muffling from Sex and The City. Younger viewers will be able to see her soon as Antigone Carruthers on the new PBS show The Electric Company. Well-known to theatre audiences, she was last seen in the Divine Sister with Charles Busch. On Broadway she appeared in Hairspray after receiving rave reviews (as well as receiving Drama Desk and Drama League nominations) for her performance in William Hamilton's White Chocolate. She received an Outer Critics Circle nomination for her performance in The Roundabout's production of Twentieth Century. Other Broadway credits include Gypsy, The Women and The Man Who Came to Dinner. Off-Broadway credits include acclaimed performances in The Vagina Monologues, The Butter and Egg Man and The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told.

The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation is a not-for-profit organization recognizing the great work of New York City's Off-Off-Broadway, honoring its artistic heritage, and providing a meeting ground for this extensive and richly varied community. The organization advocates for Off-Off-Broadway and recognizes the unique and essential role it plays in contributing to American and global culture. They believe that publicly recognizing excellence in Off-Off-Broadway will expand audience awareness and foster greater appreciation of the New York theatre experience. www.nyitawards.com

Sponsors: Kampfire Films PR and United Stages