Theater for the New City to Host Annual Gala in February

Two New Yorkers who have been staunch advocates of new works for the theater - the late actress and philanthropist Betsy Von Furstenberg, along with sculptor and painter Donn Russell - will be honored when Theater for the New City, the Lower East Side theater complex now in its 30th year, presents its annual fundraising gala LOVE N' COURAGE on February 22 at 6 pm at the National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South in Manhattan), it has been announced by Crystal Field, TNC's Executive Director.

LOVE N' COURAGE is Theater for the New City's long-standing annual event to raise funds for TNC's emerging writers programs, and each year salutes key figures in the arts community who support the development of new works for the stage.

Headlining the tributes to Ms. Furstenberg and Mr. Russell will be performers David Amram, Phoebe Legere, KT Sullivan, the Yip Harburg Foundation Rainbow Troupe, TNC's Street Theater Company, dancer Cha-Lee Chan and Eric Yves Garcia.

The beloved downtown performers Phoebe Legere and Matt Morillo will emcee the event. The evening will also honor supporters Cecilia and J. Seward Johnson, Jr., for whom TNC's Johnson Theater is named. The Johnson Theater is one of four stages that Theater for the New City provides for writers, directors, actors, designers and producers to present new work.

Ms. Field notes the title LOVE N' COURAGE stems from the event's usual date near Valentine's Day, what she calls "a perfect theater time. It harks back to a time when theater was what television is today. It was the place to go, where art was created."

Theater for the New City has previously honored such beloved artists as Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson, Edward Albee, Elaine Stritch, Bel Kaufman, Tammy Grimes, Mario Fratti and Vinie Burrows.

Betsy Von Furstenberg, who died in April 2015, was a Broadway, television and film actress, philanthropist and TNC board member for many years, a staunch financial and spiritual supporter of the organization. Her numerous appearances on Broadway include THE SECOND THRESHOLD, THE CHALK GARDEN, NATURE'S WAY THE GINGERBREAD LADY, AVANTI! and DOES ANYBODY HERE DO THE PEABODY?

Ms. Field says, "Betsy was someone I leaned on to help us continue the mission of this theater. She advocated for keeping ticket prices low while other costs soared. She knew everyone and they all loved her. Everyone in town returned her calls."

Donn Russell is the co-founder of the Peg Santvoord Foundation, which has funded Theater for the New City and numerous other arts organizations including La MaMa, Innovative Theater Foundation and Dixon Place. Ms. Field credits the Foundation for helping TNC become mortgage-free by donating $30,000.

"Donn helped us from the very beginning," Ms. Field states. "They began the push to pay off our mortgage."

In fact, Borough President Scott Stringer designated January 26 as TNC APPRECIATION DAY on the occasion of the theater's having paid off its mortgage two year, which the company celebrated with a mortgage-burning ceremony. The theater continues to recognize January 26 each year as TNC APPRECIATION DAY.

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