The announcement was made May 9 by Arne Gundersen, president of the foundation. The awards honor a female and male character actor, 50 years of age or older, for the best performance in a supporting role in a Broadway or Off-Broadway production. The prizes are $1,000 each plus a crystal trophy.
Mary Louise Wilson has played Edith Bouvier Beale in the musical Grey Gardens since it opened Off-Broadway in 2006. For the turn, she was nominated for Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel awards, and was honored by the Drama League for her performance. (She's in the show on Broadway now.) She received both an Obie and Drama Desk Award for Full Gallop, a play about the legendary Diana Vreeland, which she co-authored; was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance as Fraulein Schneider in the Broadway revival of Cabaret; and also appeared on Broadway in Show Boat; Fools; Prelude to a Kiss; Alice in Wonderland; The Royal Family; The Women and Flora, The Red Menace.
David Margulies was recognized for his performances this season in both All That I Will Ever Be at The New York Theater Workshop and as Rabbi Stephen Wise in The Accomplices, produced by The New Group. Earlier this season he was also in Odets' Rocket to the Moon at the Long Wharf Theatre. Other Broadway credits include Wonderful Town, 45 Seconds From Broadway, Angels in America, Conversations With My Father, The West Side Waltz, Comedians and Brighton Beach Memoirs.
Equity member Richard Seff, a respected agent for many years who gave up repping in the 1970s to devote more time to acting, established these awards in 2003. Previous recipients include Tom Aldredge, Larry Bryggman, Jim Dale, Jane Houdyshell, Dana Ivey and Margo Martindale.
The presentation will take place at Equity's Eastern Regional Board meeting at 2 PM June 12 at Equity's offices, 165 West 46th Street, New York. The judges' panel included Irene Backalenick, Back Stage; Adam Feldman, Time Out NY; Harry Haun, Playbill; Michael Kuchwara, Associated Press; David Rosenberg, Back Stage; and Michael Sommers, The Star Ledger.
