Norton will receive Signature’s Playwrights’ Award, created to “recognize individuals and organizations who, through their vision and leadership, have placed their own signatures upon American theatre.” Norton, who made his Signature debut in Edward Albee’s Fragments and returned in Lanford Wilson’s Burn This, is being recognized for “his unwavering championship of Signature and the building of Signature Center as capital campaign chair.”

In addition to Norton, guests will include Edward Albee, Lee Blessing, Athol Fugard, Frank Gehry, John Guare, Hugh Hardy, Tony Kushner, Leslie Lee, Charles Mee, Tonya Pinkins and Kevin Spacey. John and Amy Griffin, who named The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre in honor of theatre historian Alice Griffin, will also be in attendance.

The Gala will offer a first look at Signature’s new home, which is located at 480 West 42nd Street and features three intimate theatres connected by a lobby with café, bar and bookstore, a studio theatre, a rehearsal studio and the Signature’s administrative offices. The evening will include cocktails and entertainment.

The first performance at Signature Center takes place the following day with Athol Fugard’s Blood Knot, inaugurating The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre. Read more about the 2012 season.

For more information, visit www.signaturetheatre.org.