New Dramatists Honor Fierstein With Lifetime Award

New Dramatists, Tony Honor recipient and the nation's premiere playwright development workshop, proudly announces that four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein will be honored with their 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award at its 59th Annual Spring Luncheon tribute, to be held Thursday, May 15th at the New York Marriott Marquis. Arthur Laurents is Luncheon Chair. Fiersein's A Catered Affair costar, Faith Prince will be on hand to offer tributes to Mr. Fierstein. New Dramatists 59th Annual Spring Luncheon has been underwritten by Bob Boyett. Jujamcyn Theaters, The Nederlander Group and The Shubert Organization add their support as benefactors for the yearly event.

 Each year, New Dramatists salutes an individual who has made an outstanding artistic contribution to the American theatre. Harvey Fierstein is represented on Broadway this season with A Catered Affair, the new musical the Fierstein stars in and adapted from friend Paddy Chayefsky's teleplay and movie.  Chayefsky was among the original resident playwrights of New Dramatists in 1949 and served as an inspiration to Fierstein early in his writing career. Fierstein made his professional debut at La Mama in Andy Warhol's only play, Pork.  Following 60 OOB appearances, including several plays he authored, his Torch Song Trilogy opened OOB in 1980, ultimately making it to Broadway in 1982 winning him two Tony Awards, two Drama Desk Awards, and the Dramatist Guild Award.   Fierstein, who won his third Tony for the book of La Cage aux Folles, also wrote Safe Sex, Spookhouse and Legs Diamond.  Film appearances include Independence Day, Mrs. Doubtfire and Bullets Over Broadway; television credits include "Sesame Street,"  "Murder She Wrote," "Cheers," (Emmy nomination), and numerous editorials aired on LOGO and PBS.  Fierstein has provided voices for "The Simpsons," "Family Guy," the HBO special "The Sissy Duckling" (Humanitas Award as author), and narrated the Oscar-winning "The Times of Harvey Milk."  His Op Ed's and articles have been published in The New York Times, TV Guide and National Lampoon.  For his performance in Hairspray, Fierstein received Drama Desk, Drama League (Outstanding Performance of the Year), and New York Magazine Awards and his fourth Tony. Most recently he appeared on Broadway as Tevye in the record-breaking revival of Fiddler on the Roof.  He was recently inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame.

Past luncheon honorees have included Edward Albee, Chita Rivera, Meryl Streep, Angela Lansbury, Julie Andrews, Glenn Close, Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Miller, Neil Simon, Jerry Herman, Terrence McNally, Barbara Cook, John Kander & Fred Ebb, August Wilson, George C. Wolfe and Gwen Verdon.
 
The luncheon will be held at the Broadway Ballroom of the New York Marriott Marquis (1535 Broadway, between 45th and 46th Streets) on Thursday, May 15th, beginning with a champagne reception at 11:15 AM and ending at 2:30 PM.  Tickets are $300 (a portion of which is tax-deductible).  For tickets, call (212) 757-6960.