McLane and Ettinger Honored at October 16 Benefit

The New Group has announced a benefit evening honoring Derek McLane and Wendy Ettinger with the first annual Michael Mendelson Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Theater.  This event is set for Monday, October 16 at Cipriani 23rd Street (200 Fifth Avenue) beginning at 6:30 PM. 

The benefit will feature a live auction, offering up an array of prizes including a chance to attend a Marc Jacobs fashion show.  The evening will run as follows: 6:30 PM – VIP cocktail reception / 8:00 PM – dinner, live auction, entertainment & dancing.

The late Michael Mendelson was a Founding Board Member of The New Group and served as Chairman of the Board from 1995 until his passing in 2005.   In acknowledgement of Mendelson's devoted and invaluable efforts as Chairman of the Board of The New Group during its founding decade, The Michael Mendelson Award will be presented annually in grateful recognition of the exceptional contributions of individuals to the theatrical community.

The company proudly announces the first recipients of the Michael Mendelson Award: Derek McLane and Wendy Ettinger.  Award-winning Set Designer McLane's credits include Broadway's The Pajama Game (2006 Tony(r) nomination), The Threepenny Opera, Little Women, I Am My Own Wife, Barefoot in the Park, The Women, Present Laughter, London Assurance, Holiday, Honour, Summer and Smoke,  and The Three Sisters.   Previous honors include 1997 & 2004 OBIE Awards for Sustained Excellence in Scenic Design, the Michael Merritt Award in Chicago (2003), six Drama Desk Nominations and two Lortel Awards (2004, 2005).  He has designed extensively for regional and Off-Broadway productions.

Ettinger is an award-winning producer, director and casting director.  Her first documentary, The War Room, directed by Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker, was nominated for an Academy Award. Their second collaboration, Moon Over Broadway, was cited as Best Documentary of '98 and aired on Bravo.  Her first feature film, Eye Of God, directed by Tim Blake Nelson, premiered at Sundance and garnered the American Independent Award at the Seattle Film Festival.  She is currently collaborating with director Douglas Keeve on a feature length documentary, The Grammercy Park Hotel, which interlaces the tragic history of the family that owned the hotel for 50 years with the adventurous tales of rockers that stayed in the hotel.  She is also involved in various other production companies.

The New Group benefit event will take place Monday, October 16 at 6:30 PM at Cipriani 23rd Street (200 Fifth Avenue).  Individual tickets are $500 - 750; tables can be purchased starting at $5,000 (limited availability).  For tickets contact Barbara Toy at The New Group: (212) 244-3380 x314 or Barbara@TheNewGroup.org.