The Eugene O鈥橬eill Theater Center presented the 23rd Monte Cristo Award to Chair Emeritus Tom Viertel November 18 at the Edison Ballroom in Manhattan.
Viertel was honored for his three decades of service to the organization, including his 25 years as Chair of the Board.
Jack Viertel presented his brother Tom with the 2024 Monte Cristo Award, saying, 鈥淚t鈥檚 an amazing thing to have an older brother who is a fearless leader and a wonderful older brother, and a hall of fame virtuoso鈥ou could hardly ask for anything more."
In his acceptance speech Tom Viertel praised the O鈥橬eill Theater
Center, saying his experiences there were 鈥渢he greatest joys of my life
in theatre鈥t鈥檚 been joyous, it鈥檚 been challenging, and I鈥檓 so glad I
could help.鈥�
The evening also included remarks from Tiffani Gavin, the O鈥橬eill鈥檚 executive director; and Carolyn Greenspan, Viertel鈥檚 successor as Chair of the Board; plus performances by Casey Likes, Brenda Braxton, Julia Murney, Brad Oscar, Marilyn Maye, Laura Bell Bundy, Kerry Butler, and Marissa Jaret Winokur.
Additional guests included Angel Desai, Chalia La Tour, Claire Warden, Dennis Stowe, Erin Davie, Johanna Day, Laila Robins, Pat Daily, Preton Whiteway, and Tom Kitt.
Check out photos from the evening in the gallery below:
Tom Viertel
Laura Bell Bundy, Marissa Jaret Winokur, and Kerry Butler
Laura Bell Bundy, Marissa Jaret Winokur, and Kerry Butler
Kerry Butler
Lynne Zink
Julia Murney
Julia Murney
Marilyn Maye
Marilyn Maye
Tiffani Gavin
Tiffani Gavin
Brad Oscar
Brenda Braxton
Brenda Braxton
Casey Likes
Casey Likes
Tom Viertel, Tom Kitt, Ted Chapin, and guest
The Monte Cristo Award is bestowed annually to a prominent artist whose work has had an extraordinary impact on American theatre, in memory of its namesake. The annual gala event supports the O鈥橬eill鈥檚 mission to develop new work and new artists for the stage.
Past recipients of the award include Lynn Nottage, George C. White, John Logan, Judith Light, Meryl Streep, Michael Douglas, Nathan Lane, Christopher Plummer, James Earl Jones, Jason Robards, Jr., Zoe Caldwell, Brian Dennehy, Karl Malden, August Wilson, Wendy Wasserstein, Edward Albee, Neil Simon, Harold Prince, George C. Wolfe, Arthur and Barbara Gelb, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
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