Photo Flash: Urban Stages Presents Jim Dale with Lifetime Achievement Award

By: A.A. Cristi May. 15, 2018

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Urban Stages' Board of Directors and founding artistic director Frances Hill celebrated "The Magic of Theater by presenting the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award to legendary actor Jim Date at their Gala Benefit. The event was held at the Boathouse in Central Park at 6:30PM on May 14, 2018. The award was presented by stage and screen star Simon Jones (Farinelli and the King, The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy).

Mr. Dale is one of the world's great stage entertainers: actor, singer, dancer, author, lyricist, comedian, narrator, raconteur. At the age of seventeen he became the youngest professional comedian on the British Music Hall stage. He joined the British National Theatre at the request of Sir Laurence Olivier.

He starred in 28 films including 11 of the British "Carry On" series. His Broadway and Off Broadway triumphs include, "Scapino", "Barnum" (Tony Award), "Comedians", "Address Unknown", "Me and My Girl", "Joe Egg", "Road to Mecca", "Privates on Parade", "Candide", "The Music Man", "Three Penny Opera", "Travels With My Aunt" and his most recent one man show, "Just Jim Dale" (Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards). He recorded all seven Harry Potter audio books for the US and Canadian market, creating over two hundred different character voices. For his outstanding narration work he was inducted into the "Audible Hall of Fame" and the "American Publishers Hall of Fame".

The evening will consist of cocktails, gondola rides in scenic Central Park and entertainment by award-winning pianist Matthew MartinWard and the theater's acclaimed teaching artists. This year, Robbie Gordy from Christies Auction House will serve as auctioneer for Urban Stages' exclusive live-auction, which includes luxury vacations, golf adventures and hard-to-get theatre tickets.

The gala fundraiser also celebrated the success of the theatre's 2017-2018 season which included the world premiere of celebrated Chinese playwright Zhu Yi's A Deal, the New York premiere of Dogs of Rwanda by Sean Christopher Lewis, and the ninth edition of its award-winning musical theatre/cabaret benefit series, Winter Rhythms. As always, the annual event will benefit Urban Stages' upcoming season of developing and producing new plays and musicals as well as Urban Stages' celebrated Outreach Program, which brings over 25 different programs to libraries and schools in all five boroughs of NYC. The theatre serves thousands of New Yorkers from pre-school to senior adults with its touring programs, along with theater residencies in community centers and schools.

Photo credit: Maryann Lopinto

Photo Flash: Urban Stages Presents Jim Dale with Lifetime Achievement Award
Mark York and Jim Dale