Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!

By: May. 10, 2016
Enter Your Email to Unlock This Article

Plus, get the best of BroadwayWorld delivered to your inbox, and unlimited access to our editorial content across the globe.




Existing user? Just click login.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center celebrated the 16th annual MonteCristo Award ceremony with a presentation of the honor to award-winning stage and film director, playwright, and actor George C. Wolfe on Monday night at the Edison Ballroom. The O'Neill annually bestows its Monte Cristo Award on a prominent theater artist whose lifetime work has had an extraordinary impact on American theater. The gala event supports the Center's commitment to developing new work and new artists for the stage.

Former Monte Cristo Award recipient and celebrated actor Hal Prince presented the Award to Wolfe. In his speech, Prince described what it is like not only to work with Wolfe, but to be an audience member experiencing one of his shows.

"When I know I'm going to the theater to see something George has directed, I anticipate the occasion with great excitement because his imagination is boundless," Prince said. "The energy he marcels from his performers is always honest, infectious, muscular, dynamic and educated. George's work celebrates not only American theater, but his direction reflects an understanding of international theater. He gets what's great about great material; respects great performers; respects his audiences, so in my experience, every time I leave a George Wolfe show, I feel ennobled, informed, smarter than when I came in."

Wolfe then accepted his Award, emphasizing that the right words were hard to find to properly describe how honored he was to receive the Monte Cristo Award.

"So many people in my career have given me a place to play and to discover and to fail and to not know. And I look around this room, and this room is filled with people who do that every day of their lives," Wolfe said with excitement. "I consider myself one more person who does that, and that's what you're supposed to do. When people give you something to you, it is your responsibility to give it back to those who need it. And the O'Neill Center does nothing but that. That's what makes theatre, theatre."

The program featured of a scene from Colored Museum by actress Eisa Davis, a tap number by Savion Glover and a performance of "I'm Simply Full of Jazz" by Adrienne Warren and the cast of Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed.

Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Executive Director Preston Whiteway, O'Neill Theater Center Board Chairman Tom Viertel and Ted Chapin also took to the stage to praise the remarkable career of Wolfe. The evening also featured video tributes from Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Courtney B. Vance and Patrick Stewart.

Guests for the evening included Judith Light, Swoosie Kurtz, Rosie Perez, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Billy Porter, Brandon Victor Dixon, Sarah Stiles, Max von Essen, David Marshall Grant and Wendy C. Goldberg (Artistic Director, National Playwrights Conference).

The Monte Cristo Award is presented to a prominent theater artist each year in recognition of a distinguished career exemplifying Eugene O'Neill's "pioneering spirit, unceasing artistic commitment, and excellence." Past recipients of the Award include Meryl Streep, Christopher Plummer, Michael Douglas, James Earl Jones, Nathan Lane, Harold Prince, Kevin Spacey, Neil Simon, Jason Robards, Jr., Edward Albee, August Wilson, Zoe Caldwell, Brian Dennehy, Karl Malden, Arthur and Barbara Gelb and Wendy Wasserstein.

For more information about the Monte Cristo Award and the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, visitwww.theoneill.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
The 16th Annual Monte Cristo Award ceremony honoring George C. Wolfe

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
The 16th Annual Monte Cristo Award

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
The 16th Annual Monte Cristo Award

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
David Rockwell

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
David Rockwell

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Jules Fisher

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Karissa Royster

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Karissa Royster

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Lisa LaTouche

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Lisa LaTouche

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Forrest McClendon and Rachel Jett

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Forrest McClendon

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Scott Richards and Betsy Richards

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Swoosie Kurtz

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Swoosie Kurtz

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Daniel Green

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Tom Viertel

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Preston Whiteway

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Wendy C. Goldberg

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Preston Whiteway

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Preston Whiteway

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Sarah Stiles

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Sarah Stiles

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Preston Sadleir and Sarah Stiles

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Sarah Stiles

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Preston Sadleir

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Preston Sadleir

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
George C. Wolfe

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
George C. Wolfe

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
The 16th Annual Monte Cristo Award

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Preston Whiteway and George C. Wolfe

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
George C. Wolfe

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Preston Whiteway, George C. Wolfe

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Preston Whiteway and George C. Wolfe

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
George C. Wolfe

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Hal Prince

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Hal Prince

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Hal Prince and George C. Wolfe

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
George C. Wolfe and Rosie Perez

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
George C. Wolfe and Rosie Perez

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
George C. Wolfe and Rosie Perez

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Adrienne Warren

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Adrienne Warren

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Adrienne Warren

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Adrienne Warren

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Adrienne Warren

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Ted Chapin

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Daniel Rowan and Max von Essen

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Preston Whiteway and Judith Light

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Judith Light

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Judith Light

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Judith Light

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Judith Light

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Brandon Victor Dixon

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Brandon Victor Dixon

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Brandon Victor Dixon

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Brittany Parks

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Brittany Parks

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Savion Glover

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Brittany Parks and Savion Glover

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Colby Minifie

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Colby Minifie

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Savion Glover

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Brian Stokes Mitchell

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Brian Stokes Mitchell

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Brian Stokes Mitchell

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Billy Porter

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Billy Porter

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Eisa Davis

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Eisa Davis

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
Seth Gelblum

Photo Coverage: Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Honors George C. Wolfe with Monte Cristo Award!
The 16th Annual Monte Cristo Award ceremony honoring George C. Wolfe



Videos