Presented by the Theatre Hall of Fame, the annual luncheon is honoring Lansbury for her return to the stage in Deuce, which co-stars fellow Tony winner Seldes. The afternoon at the New York Friars club also features the presentation of the Seldes-Kanin Fellowships to actress Jennifer Mudge (Dutchman), playwright David Adjmi (The Evildoers, Stunning, Marie Antoinette) and the songwriting team of Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich (Junie B. Jones, Dear Edwina). The fellowships are $1,000 grants given to emerging theatre artists who "have been active in the New York theatre for a minimum [of] five years, and [have] demonstrated the ability to pursue the theatre as their career." This year's selection committee included Seldes, Terrence McNally and Jerry Herman.
Seldes was married to the late Garson Kanin from 1990 until his death in 1999. Kanin was an award-winning director, writer, performer and producer.
Perhaps best known her for work as TV sleuth Jessica Fletcher on "Murder, She Wrote," Angela Lansbury is one of the most celebrated stars of the Broadway stage. She received Tony Awards for her performances in Sweeney Todd, Gypsy, Dear World and Mame, and she also appeared on The Great White Way in Hotel Paradiso, A Taste of Honey, Anyone Can Whistle, The King and I and A Little Family Business. Her numerous film credits include "Gaslight," "The Picture of Dorian Gray" and "The Manchurian Candidate," all of which brought the actress Academy Award nominations.
Tickets for the event, produced by Terry Hodge Taylor, are priced $175 per person and are available by calling (212) 307-1226.