Hartford Stage to Honor Michael Wilson's Tenure as Artistic Director 6/20

What: Hartford Stage's departing Artistic Director Michael Wilson will be honored on Monday, June 20 for his 13 years of artistic leadership of the Tony Award-winning theatre. The Michael Wilson Tribute Celebration will be held at Hartford Stage's 50 Church Street theatre and will include performances by an array of artists who have worked at the theatre under Wilson's direction.

Scheduled to perform Monday evening are a host of Hartford Stage favorites including Elizabeth Ashley (8 by Tenn, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Zerline's Tale); Betty Buckley (Camino Real, Broadway by Request); Hallie Foote (To Kill a Mockingbird, Dividing the Estate, The Orphans' Home Cycle); Penny Fuller (Dividing the Estate); Annalee Jefferies (Bad Dates, The Orphans' Home Cycle, A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur, Night of the Iguana, 8 by Tenn, A Streetcar Named Desire); Alyssa Bresnahan and James Colby (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, A Moon for the Misbegotten, A Streetcar Named Desire); and Bill Heck and Maggie Lacey (The Orphans' Home Cycle). Bresnahan and Colby and Heck and Lacey are real-life couples who met while working at Hartford Stage. In addition, a number of surprise appearances, both live and recorded, await Wilson and the audience at the event.

The evening begins with a reception at 6:30 featuring beer, wine, and food from local restaurants. The performances begin at 7:30, and the evening will conclude with a dessert reception and champagne toast to Wilson. Food is being graciously provided by local favorites Dish, Grant's, Max Restaurant Group, and Salute.

When: Monday, June 20, 2011, 6:30 p.m. reception, 7:30 p.m. performance

Where: Hartford Stage, 50 Church Street, Hartford, CT

How: Tickets to the event are $75 and include an open beer and wine bar and food stations at the reception, entry to the performances, dessert reception, and champagne toast. To purchase tickets, or for more information, contact the Hartford Stage box office at 860-527-5151.