The Skylight Theatre Company is honoring multi-award winning playwright Terrence McNally in a four day star-studded event. As the first of an annual series honoring America’s great playwrights, the 2013 Skylight Salute begins on Sept. 26th with a VIP dinner at 7pm with Terrence McNally at a private residence. On Sept 27th at 8pm, Terrence McNally will be featured on an industry panel spotlighting his work and career. The event will be held at UCLA’s James Bridges Theatre and moderated by Dan Bucatinsky (Executive Producer of Web Therapy). On Sept 28th at 3pm and 8pm, audiences can attend a star-studded Premiere reading of Terrence’s updated comedy classic, It’s Only A Play, at the Skylight Theatre. On Sunday morning Sept 29th, Terrence will teach a master class on writing, and later that night he will be honored at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills with an All-Star celebration directed by Tony Award nominee Sheryl Kaller and featuring celebrities from stage, television, and screen. Performances will include excerpts from Terrence’s wide body of work, including the musicals Ragtime, The Full Monty, and Kiss of the Spider Woman as well as his Tony Award winning plays Master Class, Love! Valor! Compassion! and others. Produced by Andrew Carlberg, Suzi Dietz and Gary Grossman.
Celebrity guests will include Mary McDonnell (Major Crimes), Jason Alexander (Seinfeld), Johnny Galecki (Big Bang Theory), Sharon Lawrence (Rizzoli & Isles), Richard Kind (Broadway: Big Knife), Ed Asner (Lou Grant), Shoshana Bean (Broadway: Wicked), Tyne Daly (Broadway: Master Class), Barrett Foa (NCIS Los Angeles), Jorge Garcia (Lost), John Benjamin Hickey (The Big C), Stacy Keach (Frost/Nixon), Justin Kirk (Broadway: Other Desert Cities), Doris Roberts (Everybody Loves Raymond), Kate Walsh (Private Practice), Steven Weber (Studio 60), Cheyenne Jackson (30 Rock), Peter Jason (Arrested Development), Leslie Odom Jr. (Smash, Broadway: Leap of Faith), James Wolk (Mad Men) and more…
“The Skylight Salute is a perfect opportunity to bring the Los Angeles theater community together and to pay tribute to the men and women who create the plays that resonate with audiences for generations,” says Suzi Dietz, Skylight Theatre Company Board President
Thursday Sept 26th – VIP DINNER WITH TERRENCE McNALLY: 7pm Drinks, 8pm Dinner at Private Residence (location provided with ticket purchase). Tickets are $500.
Friday, Sept 27th – “Does it Take One to Know One” 8pm, Terrence McNally will join a panel of writers focusing on writing gay themes and characters. Other panelists will include Emmy Award winner Max Muchnick (Creator/Executive Producer Will and Grace), Emmy Nominee Dan Bucatinsky (Scandals and Executive Produver of Web Therapy), Dan Roos (Writer/Director The Opposite Sex), Tony Award Nominee Geoffrey Nauffts (Next Fall and writer on Brothers and Sisters), Peter Paige (actor Queer as Folk and creator of The Fosters), and multi-award nominee writer/actor Tony Abatemarco. UCLA/James Bridges Theatre (located at 235 Charles E. Young Drive, Los Angeles, Ca 90035-just off Sunset at Hilgard, with convenient parking). Tickets are $35 – $50
Saturday, Sept 28th –”It’s Only A Play,” at 3pm & 8pm. A Star studded Premiere reading of McNally’’s updated comedy classic It’s Only A Play (A hilarious send-up of show business and its often bizarre practitioners, set in the sumptuous penthouse apartment of a theatrical producer on the opening night of her first Broadway production). At the Skylight Theatre (located at 1816 1/2 N. Vermont, LA, 90027). Tickets are $35 – $60
Sunday, Sept 29th: ALL-STAR CELEBRATION at 8pm will be held at the Saban Theatre (located at 8440 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, Ca 90211) with a VIP After-Party to follow. Tickets are $50 – $350.
