Thomas Kean News

The Acting Company’s 50th Anniversary Gala celebrated the company’s impact across America and new artistic vision for the future on Monday, June 13, 2022 at Capitale in New York City.

The Acting Company has announced a celebration of the company’s half century of impact across America with a 50th Anniversary Gala to take place on Monday, June 13, 2022 at Capitale (130 Bowery).

On April 28th at 4 p.m., The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will celebrate Governor Thomas H. Kean by unveiling a lifesize rendering of the new entrance to their behind-the-scenes headquarters in Florham Park, which the Theatre is naming in Governor Kean's honor. The new official name of STNJ's highly unusual and acclaimed support facility will be the Thomas H. Kean Theatre Factory: The Education, Production and Administrative Center for The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. 

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is proud to announce that it will be naming its innovative, behind-the-scenes support facility in honor of Former Governor Thomas H. Kean, who has served as the Theatre's Honorary Chair for over three decades. Located at 3 Vreeland Road in Florham Park, the building will be named The Thomas H. Kean Theatre Factory: The Education, Production and Administrative Center for The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. Governor Kean's unparalleled record of advocacy and support for the arts, artists, and arts education throughout the region over many decades, and his deep commitment to emerging young talent inspired The Shakespeare Theatre leadership to ask Governor Kean's permission to name their groundbreaking workplace in his honor. Governor Kean has graciously agreed to lend his name to the building.

Seward Johnson, "America's most popular sculptor;" his wife, writer and producer Cecelia Joyce Johnson; and the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders will receive the Thomas H. Kean Arts Advocacy Award during George Street Playhouse's annual gala on May 5.

Effective July 1, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Trustees Ann Borowiec and Norman Slonaker will assume leadership as co-chairs of the NJSO Board of Trustees, succeeding Linda Bowden and David Huber.

The Acting Company (Ian Belknap, Artistic Director; Elisa Spencer-Kaplan, Executive Director) honored director and artistic leader Bill Rauch and the married civic leaders Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel and Ambassador Carl Spielvogel- individuals whose exemplary work aligns with the artistic and educational ideals of the storied repertory company that produces nationally recognized theater productions and arts education programs-at the Company's 2018 Fall Gala, on November 12. Held at the historic Metropolitan Club (One East 60th Street), the event raised nearly $400,000 and brought together awards, live entertainment, silent and live auctions, dinner, and cocktails in celebration of theater and its contribution to American society. Tony Award-winner and The Acting Company alumna Harriet Harris hosted, with performances by Joanna A. Jones (Hamilton) and Tatiana Wechsler, featuring Russ Kaplan's Broadway Jazz. 

The Acting Company (Ian Belknap, Artistic Director; Elisa Spencer-Kaplan, Executive Director) will honor director and artistic leader Bill Rauch and the married civic leaders Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel and Ambassador Carl Spielvogel- individuals whose exemplary work aligns with the artistic and educational ideals of the storied repertory company that produces nationally recognized theater productions and arts education programs-at the Company's 2018 Fall Gala, on November 12.

The Acting Company (Ian Belknap, Artistic Director; Elisa Spencer-Kaplan, Executive Director) will honor director and artistic leader Bill Rauch and the married civic leaders Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel and Ambassador Carl Spielvogel- individuals whose exemplary work aligns with the artistic and educational ideals of the storied repertory company that produces nationally recognized theater productions and arts education programs-at the Company's 2018 Fall Gala, on November 12. Held at the historic Metropolitan Club (One East 60th Street), the event will bring together awards, live entertainment, silent and live auctions, dinner, and cocktails in celebration of theater and its contribution to American society.

The Acting Company will honor playwright John Guare and film and theater producer/philanthropist Anne L. Bernstein - two individuals whose exemplary work aligns with the artistic and educational ideals of the widely acclaimed touring repertory company that promotes theater and arts education nationwide - at the Company's 2017 Winter Gala, on December 4.

The Acting Company honored legendary theatrical director Mark Lamos and distinguished patron of the arts J. Barclay Collins at its annual gala Monday, October 17, at New York's Metropolitan Club, One East 60th St. The event featured cocktails, silent auction, dinner, entertainment and award ceremony. Scroll down for photos from the festivities!

The South Orange Performing Arts Center is celebrating a decade of presenting superb arts events to the region with a Gala on October 29, 6-11 p.m.  The iconic building, located at One SOPAC Way in the heart of the South Orange Village, will host the party in its theatre, loft and lobby areas.

The Acting Company will honor legendary theatrical director Mark Lamos and distinguished patron of the arts J. Barclay Collins at its annual gala Monday, October 17, at New York's Metropolitan Club, One East 60th St.

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra hosts its 2015 Spring into Music Gala tonight, April 18, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra hosts its 2015 Spring into Music Gala on Saturday, April 18, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.

Nathan Lane, Harold Prince, Angela Lansbury, Laura Osnes, Harriet Harris, Kate Burton, Kristine Nielsen, Alfred Uhry will salute actress Dana Ivey and arts patron Barbara Fleischman at The Acting Company's Gala on Monday, October 21 at Capitale. Ms. Ivey will receive the John Houseman Award recognizing her profound commitment to the development of American actors and a national audience for the theater. Ms. Fleischman will be presented the Warburg Humanitarian Award for her outstanding philanthropic endeavor and support of the arts. Harriet Harris (Cinderella) and Barclay Collins are Gala Chairs, Nathan Lane (The Nance) and Hal Prince (21 Tony Award winner) will present the awards; Stephen DeRosa (Boardwalk Empire) will host, Laura Osnes (Cinderella) will perform. Tributes will be offered by a host of celebrities. Three hundred guests complete an industry-filled audience of producers, directors, entertainers and other notables including TheHonorable Thomas Kean, record producer Clive Davis, playwrights Alfred Uhry and Elizabeth Egloff, actresses Angela Lansbury (upcoming in London's Blithe Spirit), Debra Monk (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof), Kate Burton (Scandal), Kristine Nielsen(Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike) and Patricia Conolly, directors Nicholas Martin (Vanya and Sonia and Masha an Spike),Jack O'Brien (Macbeth), Mark Lamos (Harbor) and Walter Bobbie (Venus in Fur) and producers Jack Viertel, James Houghtonand Edgar Lansbury.

At The Acting Company's 40th Anniversary Ruby Ball tonight, December 3, 2012 at Capitale, James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director of the Signature Theatre and the Richard Rodgers Director of Juilliard's Drama Division, will accept the John Houseman Award recognizing his profound commitment to the development of American actors and an audience for the theater.

At The Acting Company's 40th Anniversary Ruby Ball on Monday, December 3, 2012 at Capitale, James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director of the Signature Theatre and the Richard Rodgers Director of Juilliard's Drama Division, will accept the John Houseman Award recognizing his profound commitment to the development of American actors and an audience for the theater. Earl Weiner, Board Chairman of both The Acting Company and the Theater Development Fund (TDF) will receive the Warburg Humanitarian Award for his outstanding philanthropic endeavor and leadership. According to Barbara Fleischman, Gala Chair, Harriet Harris(Thoroughly Modern Millie, upcoming in Cinderella) and Dr. Kate Levin, Commissioner of New York City's Department of Cultural Affairs, will present the awards; Jim Dale will host, Kate Baldwin (Finian's Rainbow, upcoming in Giant) will perform and tributes will be offered by Angela Lansbury, Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone, Rainn Wilson, Dana Ivey, Hamish Linklater, Joe Dowling, Director of The Guthrie and Michael Kahn, Artistic Director of Washington's Shakespeare Theater. Four hundred guests complete an industry-filled audience of producers, directors, entertainers and other notables including The Honorable Thomas Kean, record producer Clive Davis,director/choreographer Susan Stroman, TV personality Pia Lindstrom, Juilliard President Joseph Polisi, composerMary Rodgers Guettel and The Broadway League's Charlotte St. Martin. Tickets from 212-258-3111.

George Street Playhouse's Annual Gala Benefit Evening takes place on Sunday, May 6 beginning at 5 pm at The Heldrich.

At The Acting Company's Masquerade Gala on November 14 at Capitale, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Joseph Benincasa, Chairman and President respectively of The Actors Fund, will accept the Joan Warburg Humanitarian Award honoring the Fund's extraordinary legacy of providing health and human services to the entertainment community since 1882. James Bundy, Dean of Yale School of Drama and Artistic Director of Yale Repertory Theatre, will receive the John Houseman Award recognizing his profound commitment to the development of classical actors and a national audience for the theater. David Hyde Pierce and Charles S. Dutton will present the awards; the Godspell cast will entertain and Acting Company Alumnus Hamish Linklater (Seminar) emcees the evening for an industry-filled audience of producers, directors, entertainers and other notables including The Honorable Thomas Kean, legendary record producer Clive Davis, New York Times writer Enid Nemy and The Broadway League's Charlotte St. Martin. For ticket Information call: 212-258-3111 .