Kate Burton, this season's two-time Tony Award nominee, will return to her alma mater, Yale School of Drama/Yale Repertory Theatre, on June 18 to present the school with the 2002 Governor's Arts Award.
Burton will present the award — alongside Governor John C. Rowland — to the school's dean and artistic director, Stan Wojewodski, Jr., and Yale University president, Richard C. Levin. Husband-and-wife actors Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman, a Yale grad himself, will also be on hand.
Yale was selected by the Connecticut Commission of the Arts to receive the award "in recognition of its remarkable artistic achievement and contribution to the arts." Other recipients of this year's awards include sculptor Casimer Michalczyk and Chamber Music Plus. In a statement, Governor Rowland said, "Connecticut is rich with artistic treasures that are of tremendous importance to our state in terms of economic growth, revitalization of urban centers, tourism, the education of our children and our overall quality of life. Let us be reminded that it is the dedication and talent of our resident artists, and the outstanding artistic quality and dedicated community involvement displayed by our organizations that truly distinguishes Connecticut’s cultural life. I am proud to present Governor’s Arts Awards to this year’s exceptional honorees in recognition of all they have accomplished.”
Established in 1925, Yale School of Drama is among the oldest graduate dramatic training programs in the country. The theatre has sent ten productions to Broadway, earning eight Tony Awards, and in 1991 the theatre was presented with its own Tony for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Kate Burton, a theatre veteran, starred on Broadway this season in revivals of Hedda Gabler and The Elephant Man. She received Tony nominations for her performance in each show.
The awards presentation will be held at Connecticut's Shubert Theatre (247 College Street, New Haven) and is open to the public at no charge. The afternoon will include performances from La Bottine Souriante, a musical group from Quebec, and Connecticut-based performers. A courtyard reception featuring samplings from New Haven restaurants will follow; call (203) 624-1825 for complimentary tickets. —By Andrew Gans
