Felicity Huffman Hosts Atlantic's 20th Anniversary Gala - Monday, May 2

The Atlantic Theater Company's 2005 Spring Gala celebrates the company's 20th Anniversary with a "no-holds barred" tribute to founders David Mamet and William H. Macy on Monday, May 2nd, 2005 at the legendary Rainbow Room (30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th Floor). The evening will be hosted by Atlantic founding member Felicity Huffman, who stars on "Desperate Housewives" and is married to Macy. It promises to deliver a roast and toast to the lives of these prolific artists and the accomplished history of this award winning Off-Broadway theater company.

Both Mr. Mamet and Mr. Macy will be in attendance and each plans to 'honor' the other. Additionally, guest celebrities and members of Atlantic's acting ensemble will take part in the celebration and roast.

GUESTS INCLUDE Steve Martin, Julia Stiles (Mona Lisa Smile), Bob Balaban (Gosford Park), Senator Bob Kerry, Lynn Redgrave, Camryn Manheim ("The Practice"), Broadway legends Patti LuPone and Joel Grey, Chris Bauer ("The Wire"), Rebecca Pidgeon (Shopgirl), Jeffrey Tambor ("Arrested Development"), Clark Gregg (In Good Company), Jennifer Grey (Dirty Dancing), Giancarlo Esposito (The Usual Suspects), Isiah Whitlock, Jr. (Pieces Of April)

The Gala begins at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails, music and a silent auction; 7:30 p.m.: dinner; 9:00 p.m.: Tribute and performance including musical guests, a short retrospective film and celebrity guest performers.

Atlantic Theater maintains an ensemble of actors, writers and directors that represent a who's who among the artistic world. In addition to founders David Mamet and William H. Macy the ensemble includes founding members Felicity Huffman ("Desperate Housewives") and Clark Gregg (In Good Company, Spartan, "The West Wing"), Mary Steenburgen (Academy Award winner for Melvin and Howard, Elf, "Joan of Arcadia"), Kristen Johnston (Emmy Award winner for "The Third Rock from the Sun"), Giancarlo Esposito (Carlito's Way: The Beginning, Ali, Do the Right Thing), Chris Bauer (The Ballad of Bettie Page, "The Wire") and Camryn Manheim (Emmy Award winner for "The Practice") among others.

Atlantic's 2004 - 2005 season's productions include David Mamet's acclaimed World premiere comedy Romance, Woody Allen's world premiere play A Second Hand Memory, Tina Howe's world premiere translations of Ionesco's The Bald Soprano & The Lesson and Tom Donaghy's world premiere adaptation of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard starring Brooke Adams and Scott Foley.

Atlantic Theater Company is the award-winning Off-Broadway theater that produces great plays simply and truthfully. The plays in the Atlantic repertory, from both new and established playwrights, are boldly interpreted by today's finest theater artists and resonate with contemporary audiences. Since its inception twenty years ago, Atlantic has produced more than ninety plays, including the Tony Award ® winning production of The Beauty Queen of Leenane, the internationally celebrated revival of American Buffalo, an acclaimed staging of Joe Penhall's Blue/Orange, and the world premieres of new plays written by Woody Allen, David Mamet, Howard Korder and Tom Donaghy.

TABLE PRICES: $20,000 (Anniversary) $10,000 (Producer) $5,000 (Angel) Individual tickets: $500 and $1,000. Funds raised support Atlantic's new play development and education programs.

To purchase tickets, contact Erika Mallin, Director of Development via phone at (212) 691-5919 ext. 105 or emallin@atlantictheater.org