Queen of Southern Gothic Dale Dickey to be Honored at Annual Clarence Brown Theatre Gala

Knoxville native and University of Tennessee alumna, Dale Dickey, will be awarded the CBT Artistic Achievement Award at the Clarence Brown Theatre's annual Gala to be held Saturday, May 20, 2017 at 6:30pm at Jackson Terminal, 205 W. Jackson Avenue in Knoxville, TN.

Called the "reigning queen of Southern gothic," Dickey began acting on the University of Tennessee stages at age nine, and participated in more than 20 productions before she became a theatre major at the University in 1979. While in school, she apprenticed with the Clarence Brown Theatre numerous times, receiving her Actors' Equity Card for professional stage actors in 1983.

She began her career in New York, working in many off-Broadway venues and spent two years as an artist-in-residence with the Manhattan Punch Line's Improvisational theatre company. In 1986, she was accepted to the British American Drama Academy in Oxford for a summer. She later would join the American cast of Sir Peter Hall's Broadway production of "The Merchant of Venice," with Dustin Hoffman. She has worked in numerous regional theatres across the country and spent three summers at the acclaimed Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center in Connecticut. She has earned two Los Angeles Theatre Alliance Ovation Awards for her stage work.

Maintaining her ties to the University and the Clarence Brown Theatre, she returned on multiple occasions to work directly with students and star in several productions, including "The Rainmaker," "Steel Magnolias," "A Streetcar Named Desire," and "Sweeney Todd." In 2010, she received a Distinguished Alumna Award in recognition of her service to her alma mater. In 2015, she received an honorary Master of Fine Arts degree, the highest degree awarded in that discipline.

She has worked on close to 50 television projects - guest starring on shows such as "Frasier," "ER," "The X-Files," "CSI," "The Closer," and "2 Broke Girls," as well as television films such as Disney's "Princess Protection Program" and A&E's miniseries "Bonnie and Clyde." She is best known for her recurring roles on "Christy," "My Name is Earl," "Breaking Bad," "Justified," and as the grandmother wolf on "True Blood." Most recently, she completed work on a series for HBO with Danny McBride, called "Vice Principals."

With close to 40 film credits, she has worked alongside some of the most accomplished actors in the film industry including Jack Nicholson, Robert De Niro, Barbara Streisand, and Robert Downey Jr. in such movies as "The Pledge," "Being Flynn," and "Iron Man 3." Most recently, she appeared in the Academy Award-nominated movie "Hell or High Water" with Jeff Bridges. She also appeared in several independent films, and won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female for her role in "Winter's Bone."

"Dale Dickey is well-known to Knoxville audiences. Her professional success is matched by her professional generosity. And we are grateful for the many times she has shared her artistry on the CBT stage and shared with our students her inspiring talent," said CBT Producing Artistic Director Calvin MacLean.

The CBT Gala benefits the Clarence Brown Theatre Artists Endowment, which helps bring professional guest artists, like Dale Dickey, from across the United States to the CBT to engage and teach undergraduate and graduate students, all while creating the world-class, professional theatre experiences Greater Knoxville audiences have come to expect.

CBT Gala attendees will enjoy an evening trip around the world with extravagant dining, enlightening conversations, and an energetic live auction, complete with experiences you won't want to miss out on - including a private Tennessee River Cruise and tickets for four to The Food Channel's Food & Wine Festival in New York!

"The Clarence Brown Theatre is thrilled to have America's favorite character actress, Dale Dickey, as our 2017 honoree. She is a Knoxville born and UT educated treasure, having had a career spanning Broadway, television and movies. Come join us on May 20 at the Jackson Terminal for a great evening recognizing Dale's many achievements," said CBT Gala Chair Steven Smith.

Want to spend one-on-one time with Dale Dickey at a private reception beforehand? Corporate and individual sponsorship packages are available now. Contact Amanda Middleton at amiddle5@utk.edu or (865) 974-5654 for details.

Current sponsors for the 2017 CBT Gala include: Doug and Melissa White, The Lederer Family, Steve Smith and Donald Thorne, Brooks and Karen Clark/Georgiana Vines, Katharine Pearson Criss and Charlotte Headrick, Regions, Liz and Wes Stowers, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, Charlie Brakebill, Rob and June Heller, Kent and Susan Farris, Maureen Dunn McBride and Neil McBride, Sara A. Phillips, Robin and Joe Ben Turner, Willis of Tennessee Inc., Melanie and Tom Wood, Drs. LeAnne and John Dougherty/Genesis Brain Health, Peggy and Ron Turner, Margie Nichols and John Gill, and Lyle and Trish Irish.

Tickets go on sale April 17. Visit us online at clarencebrowntheatre.com/gala for more information.

Members of the 2017 CBT Gala committee include: Steve Smith (Chair), Rick Carl, Mary Pom Claiborne, Susan Farris, Bob Lederer, Brenda Madigan, Maureen Dunn McBride, Margie Nichols, Whitney Ray-Dawson, Todd Richesin, Robin Turner, Melanie Wood, and Wendy Wortham.

With a dual mission to train the next generation of theatre artists and to provide top quality professional theatre, like that of a teaching hospital, the Clarence Brown Theatre at the University of Tennessee Knoxville is one of only 13 academic LORT (League of Resident Theatre) institutions in the nation. Under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Calvin MacLean and Managing Director David B. Byrd, the CBT season runs from August through May and features eight productions ranging from musicals to drama. Productions remaining in the 2016-2017 Season include "Outside Mullingar," "The Busy Body," "Top Girls" and "Around the World in 80 Days."