Haran to Lead B'Day Benefit for Madeline Gilford

Madeline Gilford, beloved actress and producer, celebrates her 84th birthday at home with a gala open house on May 30th starting at 5:30 PM. Madeline is the widow of comedian Jack Gilford, who starred in the original companies of Cabaret, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Sly Fox and the 1971 revival of No, No Nanette. She will receive the First Annual Madeline Gilford Award at 6:30PM.

Gilford herself was a child actress who shared the stage with Ethel Barrymore in Embezzled Heaven. She assisted lyricist E.Y. (Yip) Harburg during many productions, including the Lena Horne vehicle Jamaica.  Gilford has been a theatrical matchmaker for thousands of actors, writers, producers, directors and choreographers. She co-authored a memoir with Kate Mostel, 170 Years in Show Business, which chronicles the lives of Jack and Madeline, as well as Kate and Zero Mostel.

Jack Gilford was nominated for best supporting Oscar for his performance in the film Save the Tiger, which won Jack Lemmon an Oscar for best actor. Madeline is also in the 1973 film.

The first annual Madeline Gilford award "for her dedication and tireless contributions to the theatre" is being presented by Musical Mondays Theatre Lab. The not- for- profit organization has given early performances of works by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez (Avenue Q), Tom Kitt and Amanda Green (High Fidelity), 2007 Richard Rodgers winner Barry Wyner (Calvin Berger) and many other promising writers. The organization, now in its ninth year, was founded by Bick Goss and is guided by Goss and Frank Evans.

Broadway producers Judith Ann Abrams, Pat Addiss and Ruben Brache, eBroadwayPlays.com, Jamie deRoy and Ted Snowdon are sponsors of the Birthday gala. Other committee members for the event include actress Barbara Barrie, producer Anne L. Bernstein, actors Gordon & Jane Connell, playwright (and son) Joe Gilford, producer (and daughter) Lisa Gilford, cabaret favorite Mary Cleere Haran, producer Catherine Russell, actress Marie Wallace and Tony-winning composer-lyricist Maury Yeston.

The evening with feature a performance by Haran and one of the most recent Musical Monday's presentation - Queen Esther, by Ryan Cunningham and Joshua Salzman, writers of I Love You Because.  It will also feature other performers who have been close to Madeline during her long career.

Admission to the event is $100.84, available at SmartTix.com (212 866-4444). In ordering, specify "Madeline Gilford Birthday Benefit" (amounts in excess of $40.00 for the ticket and any additional Contribution are tax deductible within the limits prescribed by law).  Musical Mondays is a Not-for-Profit 501[c] 3 Organization. Further information is available at www.MusicalMondays.org. 

Photo of Mary Cleere Haran by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.