Tyne Daly Among Honorees at Abingdon's 20 Years Gala; Lucie Arnaz and Laurence Luckinbill Will Co-Host

By Michael Gioia
19 Sep 2012

Tyne Daly
Tyne Daly
Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Abingdon Theatre Company, which has produced more than 77 new American plays in its 20-year history, will celebrate its 20th anniversary with Abingdon: Setting the Stage for 20 Years, its annual benefit gala and dinner, Oct. 29 at Espace in Manhattan.

The evening, set to begin at 6 PM, will honor Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress Tyne Daly (Gypsy, Master Class, "Cagney & Lacey"); businessman Sam D. Altman, who has served on Abingdon's board of directors for ten years; and press agent Shirley Herz, who was awarded a special Tony Award for excellence in the theatre in 2009 and has represented Abingdon Theatre Company since 1999.

Lucie Arnaz (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, They're Playing Our Song) and Tony nominee Laurence Luckinbill (The Shadow Box, Cabaret) will co-host the gala, which includes performances from Tony nominee Jonathan Hadary (Gypsy with Daly, Golden Boy) and Julie Halston (Anything Goes), among others.

Proceeds from the gala will benefit Abingdon Theatre Company's mission to develop and produce new plays by American playwrights.

Since 1993, Abingdon Theatre Company has developed and produced new plays by American playwrights exclusively. Under the guidance of artistic director Jan Buttram and managing director Samuel Bellinger, the company provides a home in which playwrights collaborate with other theatre artists and receive audience feedback through a four-step development process: Page 2 Stage, staged readings, and workout labs, which culminate in studio and mainstage productions.

Read about the company's upcoming 20th season here.

Espace is located at 635 West 42nd Street. Tickets begin at $400 and can be purchased by contacting Heather Henderson at (212) 868-2055. For more information, visit AbingdontTheatre.org.