The Players to Celebrate 125th Anniversary with NYE Gala

One Hundred and Twenty-Five years ago this New Year's Eve, America's most celebrated actor, Edwin Booth gave the Deed of 16 Gramercy Park South to The Players. The Players tradition has been to read the deed in front of the Great Hall fire place echoing back to Edwin Booth and the Founding Members. This year, this tradition continues along with live music, dancing, and more festivities as The Players kicks off a new era, sharing a toast to its founders and celebrating 125 years at "A Certain Club."

The evening will feature performances by award-winning vocalist Queen Esther, The George Gee Swing Orchestra, Joey Keys and more.

Dinner packages -- featuring an open bar from 6:00 - 7:00 pm and three-courses -- start at $125 per person. A party-only package - with entrance at 10:00pm, featuring fondue, dessert and champagne - is also available starting at $50 per person. VIP packages for both can also be arranged. This celebration is open to members and non-members. For information please visit http://www.theplayersnyc-events.com/#!new-years-eve/c9i5 or call The Players at 212- 475-6116.

The Players was founded in 1888 by Edwin Booth, America's pre-eminent Shakespearean actor, and 15 other incorporators, including Mark Twain and General William Tecumseh Sherman. Located in Booth's former residence, a Greek Revival townhouse facing historic Gramercy Park, The Players is modeled after London's famed Garrick Club, and it was the first American club of its kind. Its purpose: "The promotion of social intercourse between members of the dramatic profession and the kindred professions of literature, painting, architecture, sculpture and music, law and medicine, and the patrons of the arts . . ." The Players has always been a club where people of the theatre meet and mingle with individuals from a variety of professions and businesses. In addition to the warm camaraderie and convivial atmosphere, The Players Grill has long been recognized as "one of the best bars in New York." The Players offers many different types of events throughout the year from readings and lectures, through musical evenings and theatrical presentations. Every month the club hosts a "Meet Your Fellow Players" cocktail party, as well as frequent Pipe Nights at which significant cultural figures are honored.

Past and present members of The Players include: Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), George M. Cohan, John Barrymore, Eugene O'Neill, James Cagney, Gregory Peck, Alfred Lunt, Robert M. McBride, Walter Cronkite, Alexander Woollcott, Kevin Spacey, Judy Collins, Rue McClanahan, George S. Kaufman, Angela Lansbury, Sidney Poitier, Martha Plimpton, Tony Bennett, Tony Roberts, Carol Burnett, Liza Minnelli, Dick Cavett, Billy Connolly, Vartan Gregorian, HAl Holbrook, George Innes, Eli Wallach, Robert Vaughn, Ben Gazzara, Alan Cumming, Christopher Plummer, Budd Schulberg, Ethan Hawke, Jimmy Fallon, Marian Seldes, Peter O'Toole, RoseMary Harris, Roger Moore, Russell Miller, Sidney Zion, Edward Albee, Maxwell Anderson, Lauren Bacall, John Barrymore, L. Frank Baum, Harry Belafonte, Ludwig Bemelmans, Tony Bennett, Eve Best, Humphrey Bogart, Sam Bottoms, Carol Burnett and Jose Ferrer.

NEW YEAR'S EVE GALA / TRADITIONAL FOUNDERS NIGHT FESTIVITIES

6:00pm - 7:00pm Open Bar, Silent Auction & Music
7:00pm - 9:00pm Three-Course Sit-Down Dinner

Traditional Founder's Night Program with Special Guests

9:30pm - 10:00pm Reading of The Deed with Special Guests
10:00pm-Midnight Live Music With Queen Esther, George Gee Swing Orchestra, Joey Keys;

Desserts, Fondue Table, and more!

Midnight Champagne Toast with George Gee Swing Orchestra

Please note:
- Cash Bar begins at 7:00pm

- A complimentary bottle of white and bottle of red wine will be at each Dinner Table

DRESS:
Black tie, cocktail attire or your finest retro era threads (Flappers and Dapper Dans welcome!)

TICKETS:
FULL EVENING PASS: $125.00
FULL EVENING PASS + VIP: $175.00*
10:00PM ENTRY PASS: $50.00
10:00PM ENTRY PASS + VIP: $75.00**

*VIP All Evening Pass includes Prime Seating at Dinner and Private VIP Room at 10:00pm with private bar, a special complimentary cocktail and Tarot Card reading by Sebastian Ra.

**VIP 10:00pm Entry Pass includes the Private VIP Room with private bar, a special complimentary cocktail and Tarot Card reading by Sebastian Ra.

For information please visit http://www.theplayersnyc-events.com/#!new-years-eve/c9i5 or call The Players at 212- 475-6116.

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