The Shakespeare Society to Honor Daniel Sullivan and Chukwudi Iwuji

The Shakespeare Society will hold its annual Playing Shakespeare Celebration - a festive cocktail party, fundraiser and awards ceremony on May 23, from 6 - 8 pm, at The Players, 16 Gramercy Park South.

The Society will give The Shakespeare Medal to director Daniel Sullivan in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to the enjoyment and appreciation of the Bard. Previous recipients include Dame Helen Mirren, Professor Harold Bloom, Claire Bloom, Sir Derek Jacobi, Sir Peter Hall, Christopher Plummer, Michael Kahn, Richard Easton, and Sir Kenneth Branagh.

The Linda Gross Playing Shakespeare Award is in recognition of Linda Gross, and her enduring commitment to the theater, actors, and Shakespeare in performance. It is given to a promising young actor in the early years of their career playing Shakespeare, to encourage them to become honest guardians of Shakespeare's plays. The inaugural award was given in 2013, and previous recipients include Lily Rabe, Jacob Fishel and Hamish Linklater. This year's recipient is actor Chukwudi Iwuji.

The Shakespeare Society's Playing Shakespeare Celebration celebrates another glorious season of Shakespeare in New York City and the artists that bring his work to life. Ticket holders will join special guests for cocktails, canapés, a silent auction, and awards. The online auction accompanying the event will conclude at the end of the evening.

Tickets are $150 ($100 tax-deductible) and can be purchased online at shakespearesociety.org or by calling (212) 967-6802.

The Shakespeare Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the enjoyment, understanding, and appreciation of William Shakespeare's works through performance, commentary, and educational activities.