The Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival of New American Plays will also be honored. All proceeds from the gala evening will benefit NCTF's development of new American plays and world-premiere works. NCTF's gala committee includes Hal Holbrook (chair), Mitch Auslander, Norbert Leo Butz, Marla Chandler, Carmen De Lavallade Richard Ditizio, John R. Dutt, Jeffrey Hatcher, Doug Hughes, Kate Mulgrew, Barbara Meek, Lynn Nottage, Dael Orlandersmith, David Hyde Pierce, Phyilica Rashad and John Thomopoulos. All will be on hand for the April 14 celebration to be hosted by Michael McKean.

The NCTF is an association of ten of America's not-for-profit theatres dedicated to increasing the participation of corporations and their employees in support of theatre across the country and in New York.

Among the participating theatres are the American Conservatory Theater, American Repertory Theatre, Center Theatre Group, the Cleveland Playhouse, the Guthrie, the Long Wharf Theatre, the Old Globe, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Trinity Repertory Company, and this year's honored company: the Actors Theatre of Louisville.

Lansbury made a return to the Broadway stage last season opposite Marian Seldes in Terrence McNally's Deuce. Lansbury's illustrious career spans 50 years, including four Tony Awards for her performances in Sweeney Todd, Dear World, Gypsy and Mame. In 1944 Angela Lansbury made her film debut in "Gaslight," which earned her an Academy Award nomination. Lansbury is well known to television audiences as Jessica Fletcher in the series "Murder, She Wrote."

The Annual Chairman's Awards Gala will take place at Cipriani's Pegasus, located at 30 Rockefeller Center. Tickets and table reservations are available by phoning (212) 750-6895 or by visiting www.nctf.org.