This year’s gala honored playwright Lynn Cottage and educator Leonard Majzlin.
Host-Amber-Ruffin-at-the-2023-Dramatists-Guild-Foundation-Gala | Photo by Rebecca J. Michelson
Last Monday, The Dramatist Guild Foundation held their annual gala to benefit dramatists in the theater industry. This year’s gala was hosted by comedian and TV Host Amber Ruffin. Ruffin additionally wrote the book to the 2022 Tony Award-winning musical “Some Like It Hot.” Ruffin has additionally been tasked with penning the book to the rival of “The Wiz” which is heading to Broadway in 2024.
The evening’s main honorees were playwright Lynn Nottage and philanthropist Leonard Majzlin. Nottage is best known for her plays Ruined, Sweat, and Intimate Apparel, and Clyde’s. Nottage is the only woman to win a Pulitzer Prize twice. Majzlin is The Legacy Project’s Media Advisor. The Legacy Project is a continuous series of instructional video films that include well-known American playwrights, composers, and lyricists being interviewed by up-and-coming playwrights about the art of writing theater.
Several performances occurred throughout the night. Adrienne Warren, Jhardon DiShon Milton, and Matthew Griffin paid tribute to Tina Turner with “The Best.” The three all originally starred in “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” on Broadway.
Honoree Lynn Nottage with Kara Young at the 2023 Dramatists Guild Foundation Gala | Photo by Rebecca J. Michelson
Kara Young performed a short monologue from Clyde’s introducing Lynn Nottage. Margo Seibert performed “Borderline” from “Borderline,” a musical written by Benjamin Velez, who received the Stephen Schwartz Award from the renowned composer at the Gala. Eric McCormack performed “Try to Remember” from “The Fantasticks” as a tribute to its lyricist Tom Jones. Patti LuPone sang a rendition of “Meadowlark” from the Schwartz musical, the Baker’s Wife and Deborah Cox closed off the show with “Believe in Yourself” from the Wiz.
Deborah Cox performs at the 2023 Dramatists Guild Foundation Gala | Photo by Rebecca J. Michelson
During a portion of the event, the attendees were invited to give different tiers of donations to the guild ranging from $250 to $10,000. By the end of the night, over $110,000 was raised to help dramatists across the nation. From providing housing stipends to providing rehearsal spaces, DGF’s help makes it possible for artists to have some security during difficult challenges in their careers.
The DGF provides support not only by providing funds, but by providing mentorship as well.The 2023 Gala saw several fellows being honored at the event as well. Each year, the DGF chooses a select few to take part in their fellowship program, where a writer is assigned a renowned mentor in the industry to help build up their skills. The prestigious fellowship has been known to be a launching pad for some of the most brilliant writers to be featured on Broadway.
The evening also saw the revelation of a new fellowship—The Catalyst Fellowship. The fellowship is for Black, Latine, Indigenous, Asian, Pacific Islander or mixed-race talent who are working towards addressing harsh conditions in marginalized communities. This fellowship provides 10 dramatists $30k each year over 2-years to work towards shaping change in a community and theater. The DGF also provides grants to writers too in case of job loss or housing need.
The night was truly eventful and one that honored several brilliant dramatists and up-and-coming talent who will fund their dream projects because of the generous donations of attendees and the hard work of the DGF.
Donations to the DGF can be made on their website.
