Donna Murphy to Host Women's Project's Annual Gala; Sternhagen, Mann and More Honored

By Andrew Gans
June 2, 2005

Two-time Tony Award winner Donna Murphy, most recently on Broadway in the revival of Wonderful Town, will host the Women's Project's Roaring 20th Annual Women of Achievement Gala.

The annual event will be held June 6 at Cipriani 23rd Street and will honor Steel Magnolias' Frances Sternhagen, Golden Globe winner Mariska Hargitay, McCarter Theatre Artistic Director Emily Mann, beauty industry innovator Adrien Arpel and Caroline's on Broadway founder Caroline Hirsch. Presenters for the evening will include Mario Cantone, George Grizzard and Linda Fairstein.

The one-night-only event will kick off at 6:30 PM with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and the Women of Achievement Awards at 7 PM. A silent auction will also be part of the evening, featuring such items as a weekend getaway to South Beach and tickets to the Tony-nominated musical Spamalot.

In a statement Women's Project Producing Artistic Director Loretta Greco said, "This is our 20th year of honoring women of exceptional achievement in a variety of fields whose personal and professional lives have inspired us all. This is a true privilege to honor these women as we come to the close of my inaugural season." Previous recipients of Women of Achievement Awards include Donna Murphy, Chita Rivera, Audra McDonald, Ruby Dee, Vanessa Redgrave, Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie O'Donnell, Stockard Channing and Colleen Dewhurst.

Donna Murphy received Tony Awards for her performances in Stephen Sondheim's Passion and the revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I. Her other Broadway credits include Wonderful Town, They're Playing Our Song, The Human Comedy and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Murphy's screen credits include "Murder One," "The Day Lincoln Was Shot," "Star Trek: Insurrection," "Hack" and "The Last Debate."

Tickets for Roaring 20th Annual Women of Achievement Gala range from $500-$2,500 with tables priced $5,000-$25,000. For more information call Mary Hedahl at (212) 765-1706, ext. 203 or visit www.womensproject.org. Cipriani 23rd Street is located in Manhattan at 200 Fifth Avenue.

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Founded in 1978 by Julia Miles, the Women's Project is the nation's "preeminent theatre company dedicated to developing and producing women theatre artists."