Spirits Abound at the Playhouse Jamboree
By Henry Street Settlement
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Spirits took up residence in the Abrons Arts Center last night at the Playhouse Centennial Jamboree, aka The Party of the Century.
There were spirits floating on stage (the ghosts of Playhouse founders Alice and Irene Lewisohn, summoned to life by performers Joey Arias and Julie Atlas Muz). There were spirits (in the form of costumed ghosts) roaming the galleries, bearing trays hors d’oeuvres that were more art installation than appetizer, and puppet spirits rising in the Experimental Theater, while costumed ghosts danced to tunes spun by a “ghost” DJ from WHOOP DEE DOO. There were liquid spirits (well, wine and beer) poured for the guests during the cocktail and after parties. But nothing could top the spirit of those gathered to celebrate the centennial of the Playhouse, and the three outstanding artists honored with the first Spirt of the Playhouse awards.
Richard Abrons, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and whose family’s support of the Abrons has been without equal, spoke at the cocktail hour, noting that “his family, and the founders of the Playhouse, would be honored to be here and in way they are.” State Senator Daniel Squadron was on hand to present a resolution honoring the Playhouse.
The Jamboree’s main event took place in the Playhouse, beginning with the breathtaking opening number from Sisters’ Follies: Between Two Worlds, the current Basil Twist show commissioned by the Abrons and on stage until Halloween. David Garza, Executive Director of Henry Street, got into the spirit by donning a ghost costume to greet guests. He thanked the Board of Directors, elected officials, funders and others who support the arts at the Settlement, giving special acknowledgment to the generous leadership of the evening’s co-chairs — the Richard and Iris Abrons Foundation, Dale and Robert Burch, Scott and Kaki Swid, and Michael Wolkowitz and Hope Holiner. Garza also thanked the artists who have come through the Playhouse in the past and who will come through in the future, noting that their “beauty, boldness and brilliance” makes it the special place that it is.
The ceremony was hosted by Mo Rocca, the journalist, humorist and actor, whose first experience at Henry Street happened this past summer when he featured Settlement employee Ruth Taube on his show, My Grandmother’s Ravioli. Clearly smitten with Ruth, he invited her on stage, where they bantered about everything from matzo balls to manspreading, and stole the hearts of all.
The first Spirit of the Playhouse Award given to Woodie King, Jr. — celebrated director and producer of stage and screen, and founder of the groundbreaking New Federal Theater — was presented by special guest Ntozake Shange, whose Tony nominated play, For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf, was produced by Woodie at the Abrons in 1977. Ntozake enthused, “I can’t tell you how important Woodie King Jr. is to black theater in this country.”
Phyllis Lamhut, the choreographer, educator, and Principal dancer with the Alwin Nikolais Dance Theater, and whose career began at the Playhouse in 1946 with dance lessons, received the second Spirit of the Playhouse Award. Presenting the award was acclaimed Broadway actress (five-time Tony nominee, with two Drama Desk Awards) Jan Maxwell, whose own career began on the Abrons stage and who said she loved the theater so much, she wanted to buy it!
The third Spirit of the Playhouse Award was given to Paul Taylor whose Paul Taylor Dance Company was born on the Playhouse stage in 1954. He went on to a celebrated career as a choreographer and, at age 86, is so immersed in creating his next piece that he couldn’t accept his award in person. John Tomlinson, Executive Director of the Paul Taylor Dance Company, accepted the award from Robert La Fosse, former Principal Dancer with both American Ballet Theater and the New York City Ballet, and former Director of Education at the Abrons. Tomlinson introduced the evening’s final performance, Cascade by Taylor 2, founded by Paul Taylor in 1993 to both perform and teach.
The celebration featured performances from artists who have graced the Playhouse stage, and who have been nurtured by the Abrons throughout their careers. Phyllis Chen, a founding member of the International Contemporary Ensemble, performed former Abrons teacher and noted composer John Cage’s Suite for Toy Piano. Choreographer Jack Ferver told the audience, “I would not be where I am in my career without the Abrons,” before introducing James Whiteside (Principal Dancer, American Ballet Theater) in a piece he choreographed.
Lower East Side native and former Abrons student Nilaja Sun, an actor and playwright who is celebrated for her Obie award-winning play No Child… performed from the upcoming Epic Theatre Ensemble and Abrons co-production Pike St. Performances of Pike St. begin at the Abrons on November 10th.
Garza closed the ceremony with a quote from Henry Street founder Lillian Wald, who wrote “it is our hope that the playhouse may recapture and hold something of the poetry and idealism that belong to its people and open the door of opportunity for messages in drama and picture and song and story,” and thanked all in attendance for helping that wish to come true.
The celebration continued with an after-party designed by WHOOP DEE DOO, where guests and artists mingled and continued to celebrate at what was truly the party of the century.
