Inside Broadway and Beyond | New York Social Diary

Inside Broadway and Beyond | New York Social Diary 

Inside Broadway and Beyond 

http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/node/3131 (1 of 25) [6/2/2008 1:01:28 PM]


Students from Brooklyn’s PS 97 opened the ceremonies performing “Give My Regards to Broadway.” 

Over at the auditorium of the McGraw Building on Sixth Avenue and West 49th, Bebe 

Neuwirth (Chicago) Karen Ziemba (Curtains), Roger Bart (Young Frankenstein), 

Rebecca Luker (Mary Poppins), Danny Burstein (The Drowsy Chaperone), A. R. 

Gurney (playwright, Love Letters), Shannon O’Bryan (recent Encores production of Follies) cast 

of Three MoTenors, and Pia Lindstrom were all there for Inside Broadway’s 25th Gala 

Concert. Inside Broadway is the and acclaimed children’s theater organization founded in 1982 by 

Michael Presser to create the audiences of tomorrow. 

The evening was preceded by a 6 PM cocktail reception, which featured Pia Lindstrom as Master of 

Ceremonies, casts of several Broadway shows in performance (TBA), and the organization’s annual 

Broadway Beacon Awards. These are given to individuals in the theatre industry who have been 

advocates for increasing the audience for live theatre in New York City, particularly in helping to develop 

new young audiences for Broadway. 

John and Angela Diaz 

New York City Deputy Mayor Dennis Wolcott and Mrs. Wolcott 



This year’s honorees included such Tony Award-winning and nominated performers as Bebe Neuwirth star 

of stage and screen, Roger Bart, star of Broadway’s upcoming Young Frankenstein, and Broadway 

couple Rebecca Luker of Mary Poppins and Danny Burstein of The Drowsy Chaperone. Previous 

Broadway Beacon winners, many of whom have participated in Inside Broadway productions and 

events, have included Carol Channing, Joel Grey, Tovah Feldshuh, Karen Ziemba, 

Sutton Foster, and Karen Mason. 

In addition, special Beacon awards were presented by the Board of Directors of Inside Broadway to 

Michael Presser, the Founder & Executive Director of the organization, for 25 Years of Distinguished 

Service, and to William G. Tung, a member of the Board of Directors, and a Managing Director of the 

Rockefeller Group Development Corporation, who has also served Inside Broadway for almost 7 years 

Benefit Chairs for the event were Harry Coghlan, President and General Manager, Clear Channel 

Spectacolor; Joseph Coppotelli, Vice-Chairman, Structuretone; L. Bradford Perkins, Founder, 

Perkins-Eastman; Catherine Michaelson, Principal, Michaelson Associates and Student Advisor, 

Harvard Law School; George Stonbely, President, Spectacular Ventures; Joseph Cabrera, 

Executive Vice-President, Cushman & Wakefield; and David Jaffe, President, HighRise Systems, Inc. 

Also in Party Pictures 

❍ 6.2.08: The Last of 

Spring Flings 

❍ 5.29.08: A little 

something for everyone 

❍ 5.28.08: The Art of 

Giving 

❍ 5.27.08: Bals, Balls, 

and galas 

❍ 5.23.08: Everything is 

beautiful at the ballet 

❍ 5.22.08: Dancing for 

dia 

❍ 5.21.08: Celebration of 

Life and the Arts 

❍ 5.20.08: Lifetime 

Achievements and 

Spring Benefits 

❍ 5.19.08: So New York 

❍ 5.16.08: Galas upon 

Galas 

❍ 5.14.08: Awards for 

Excellence 

❍ 5.13.08: A tale of two 

cities 

❍ 5.12.08: Monday 

Restorations 

Cast members of Broadway’s “Three Mo’ Tenors” performed highlights from the show: Kenneth D. Alston, Jr. Phumzile Sojola, 

and Ramone Diggs 

http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/node/3131 (3 of 25) [6/2/2008 1:01:28 PM] 

❍ 5.9.08: Hats of all 

shapes and sizes 

❍ 5.8.08: 26th Annual 

Frederick Law Olmsted


The company celebrated its 25th anniversary with a Broadway performance last November at the Winter 

Garden Theatre, for both school groups and the public, with excerpts from Broadway shows. Guest 

speakers at the event included Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer, New York City Schools 

Chancellor Joel Klein, Shubert Organization Chairman Gerald Schoenfeld and many other officials 

and theatre artists. The 25th Anniversary Season will continue in the fall with school workshops, a special 

Creating the Magic, a behind-the-scenes look at a Broadway show and the various careers in theater, 

and the spring production of the hit You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown. 

Awards Luncheon 

More Party Pictures >> 

Inside Broadway began its unique programs in 1982, at the request of Shubert Organization President 

Bernard Jacobs, by creating the first Broadway student ticket program, for the musical Cats. The 

organization also created the first educational video showing the behind the scenes at the Winter Garden 

Theater and created 50 minute versions of hit Broadway shows that travel to schools to introduce young 

people to musical theatre. 

Roger Bart, Michael Presser, and Shannon O’Bryan 

Joseph Cozza, Michael Presser, and Joseph Benincasa 



Molly Hart, David Jaffe, Cathy Michaelson, Michael Griffin, and Georgeanne 

Jaffe 

Corine Shane, Gloria Shafer, Irwin Fingerit, and Ted Sayers 

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Pia Lindstrom Jonathan Green and Joseph Cabrera Karen Ziemba presenting a Broadway 

Beacon award to Bebe Neuwirth 



Bebe Neuwirth accepting the award 

A.R. Gurney presented the Broadway Beacon award to 

Rebecca Luker and Danny Burstein 

Peter L. Malkin and Howard Zipser 

Danny Burstein and his wife Rebecca Luker 

accepting the award 

New York City Council member David Weprin 

Anthony W. Guido 



Joseph Coppotelli 

The Tung family: William Tung with his son William Jr., 

and wife Ellen 

Rosa Abreu, Lisa Lichtenstein, and Mark Irgang 

Last Tuesday, October 23rd, American Ballet Theatre kicked off their upcoming season at 

City Center with their annual Fall Gala. Guests enjoyed highlights from the fall season performed by ABT's 

world renowned dancers at New York City Center and then traveled to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for a 

black tie dinner. The evening raised a record breaking $1.2 Million for ABT. 



Somers Farkas and Adrienne Vittadini Susan Fales Hill and Rachel Moore Jean and Larry Shaw 

Keith and Barbara Gollust Lewis Ranieri and Adrienne Arsht Jorma Elo and Bruce Levingston 



Kevin McKenzie with Frederica and Stephen Friedman 

Peter Lyden, Barbara Gollust, and Bruce Levingston 

Jamee and Peter Gregory Grace Hightower DeNiro and Robert DeNiro Anna Benton and Pamela Fielder 



Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia Gillian and Sylvester Miniter Susan Fosset Sosin and Patricia Shaw 

David Koch, Lewis Ranieri, and Julia Koch 

Karen LeFrak, John Banta, and Anne Grauso 



Xiomara Reyes Fe Fendi Anka Palitz 

David Ford, Pamela Fielder, Steve Alpirin, and Anna Benton Karin Schwalb Jackie Weld Drake 



Karen LeFrak, Paul Wilmot, and Rachel Moore Jill and Andrew Roosevelt Martine van Hamel, Kevin McKenzie, and Frederica 

Friedman 

Muffie Potter Aston and Dr. Sherrell Aston Judy and Sam Peabody Barbara and Donald Tober 



House & Garden’s editor-in-chief Dominique Browning hosted the Design Happening 

Leadership Breakfast at The Four Seasons to kick off her magazine’s new design. I first saw it sitting in the 

tea room of the Madinat Jumeirah hotel in Dubai while waiting for my lunch. I thought I was looking at (I 

knew I was looking at) the magazine’s “International” edition. It said so on the cover. It looked so fresh and 

clean that I wondered why they didn’t do the same for the national edition. Well, they had, they did. And it 

looks great, like its brainy editor. 

The breakfast was attended by leading architecture and design-firm principals for a panel discussion on the 

business of being creative and the changing parameters of design in the city. Moderated by Peter 

Sallick, the panel of experts included Linda Fargo, Tim Haynes, Kevin Roberts, Reed 

Krakoff, Murray Moss, Edwin Schlossberg and Annabelle Selldorf. Among those 

attending were Tiffany’s design director Robert Ruffino, interior designer/now retailer Charlotte 

Moss; PR executive Jim Brodsky, and interior designers Susan Zises Green and Richard 

Mishaan. 

Jeffrey Riedel and David Taylor for Agostino Antiques. 



Thomas Burak for Scandia Down. 

Thom Filicia for The Urban Electric Co. 

Later that evening Ms. Browning welcomed more than 200 designers, city officials and guests to 583 Park 

Avenue to toast New York City's design excellence. Tables at the Design Happening Kickoff Dinner were 

individually sponsored and designed by several creative designers including DeJuan Stroud, Thom 

Filicia, David Rockwell, Eileen Kathryn Boyd, James Rixner and Harry Heissmann. 

Among those attending: Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Jamie Drake, Charles and Clo 

Cohen, Randy Kemper, Tony Ingrao, Andrea and John Stark, Emma Pilkington, 

Alex Papachristidis, John Barman, Kelly Graham, Barclay Buttera, Christopher 

Spitzmiller, Steven Gambrel and NYC & Co. CEO George Fretitta. 

The dinner served as the official thank you to House & Garden's advisory board, partners and talent 

associated with Design Week, which will raise money for a gift to the city in the form of a green rooftop. A 

portion of the Design Happening ticket proceeds will benefit the House & Garden Green Roof Project - a gift 

to the city of New York as part of the magazine’s mission to support sustainable and affordable housing. 



The panel headed by Dominique Browning 

Adrian Benepe, Dominique Browning, and Jennifer Hicks Emma Pilkington and her mother Lisa and Philip Gorrivan 



Clo Cohen and Jamie Drake 

Kevin Roberts, Cynthia Frank, and Tim Haynes 

George Frittite and Dominique Browning 

Charlotte Moss, Jim Brodsky, and Susan Zises Green 



Scott Nelson and Alexa Papachristidis Tony Ingrao and Mayer Russ Richard Mishaan and Dominique Browing 

The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) honored artist Chuck Close at its annual 

benefit dinner two weeks ago on October 15 at The Rockefeller University. Composer Philip Glass, a 

long-time friend, presented him with the inaugural NYSCF Humanitarian Award. The award recognizes 

Close’s many years as a dedicated patient advocate and a prominent voice for the advancement of leadingedge 

scientific research. Close is a member of NYSCF’s Leadership Council. 

Among the 275 guests on hand to salute Close were NYSCF Co-founder and CEO Susan L. Solomon 

and the evening’s master of ceremonies, WNYC Radio Host Leonard Lopate. 

The gala kicked off NYSCF’s second annual Translational Stem Cell Research Conference, a two-day event 

which brought together more than 400 of the world’s leading researchers in the field of human embryonic 

stem cell research for discussions about how this science is leading to improved understanding of cancer, 

heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s and other diseases and disorders that afflict millions. 



Loretta Dives, Susan Solomon, Leonard Dobbs, and Linda Steinberg 

The New York Stem Cell Foundation wasounded in 2005, the New York Stem Cell Foundation 

(NYSCF) is a privately funded foundation dedicated to furthering human embryonic stem cell research to 

advance the search for cures of the major diseases of our time. The foundation opened the first privately 

funded human embryonic stem cell laboratory in New York in March 2006 to serve as a “safe haven” where 

scientists from academic medical centers in the New York area and throughout the East Coast can conduct 

advanced human embryonic stem cell research free of the federal restrictions that limit the scope of 

government-supported work. 

The organization’s mission is to support scientists engaged in human embryonic stem cell (hESC) research 

and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), through grants, fellowships and symposia; to educate the public 

about the importance and potential benefits of hESC research and SCNT; and to establish new 

collaborative, state-of-the-art research facilities supported entirely with private funds and directly focused on 

curing disease. 



Kevin Eggan, Steve Tanger, Nini Fergson, and Allen Adler 

Mary Elizabeth Bunzel and David Carmel 

Barbara and Keith Gollust with Pam Flagherty and Jay Schwamm 

Susan L. Solomon and Fred Shurman 



Lisa Cashin and Ann Pleshette Murphy 

Jodie Eastman, Fiona Waterstreet, Wendy Benchley, and Tracy Benchley Turner 

John Philips, Didier Malaquin, Paul Healy, and Paul Goldberger 

Philip Glass, John Guare, and Chuck Close 



Rick Friedberg, Francine LeFrak, Zoe Baird, and Bill Haseltine 

Jane Bryant-Quinn, Carl Tucker, Nancy Seltzer, and Richard Feigen 

American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic, Young Forum held its 2007-2008 Season 

Kickoff this past Monday night. This reception was hosted by Paul Epstein and Garry Parton at 

their home in the Dakota. Young professionals and AFIPO Board Members joined together to “kick off” the 

2007-2008 Season. The guests were treated to a short recital by up and coming Israeli pianist Eliran 

Avni. 

The Young Forum is the membership program of 

the Associates Program, the young leadership 

division of AFIPO. Each year, Associates (ages 21 

to 40) participate in events ranging from private 

musicales to a variety of social activities to the 

Gala concert at the Waldorf=Astoria. 

This year’s annual benefit concert and dinner, a 

Tribute to Leonard Bernstein, will take place on 

Wednesday, February 6th, 2008, at the 

Waldorf=Astoria. Gala Co-Chairmen are Ophira 

and Joram Cukierman, Rachel L. 

Posner and W. Michael Weinstein. 

Michael Barrett, a protégé of Maestro 

Bernstein’s will conduct, fifty members of the Israel 

Philharmonic Orchestra along with four vocalists 

Paul Epstein 



will perform Bernstein’s Broadway music including Candide, On the Town, Wonderful Town and 

West Side Story! Jamie Bernstein, daughter of Leonard Bernstein, will share insights about 

her father as she hosts the musical event. 

For more information about the Associates or Young Forum, please contact Marissa A. Schoenfeld at (212) 

697-2949 or mschoenfeld@afipo.org. To learn more about the American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic 

Orchestra, please visit www.afipo.org. 

Jillian Merns, Lynn Syms, and Ron Prasker 

Jill Keiser and Lesley Arlein 

Marissa Schoenfeld, Marjorie Aaron, and Ophira Cukierman 

Wendy Rockman and Betsy Eisenberg 



Shawn Simpson, Victoria Stein, Joe Weilgus, and Lauren Lipson 

Joram Cukierman 

Alex Friedman and Alon Hoshmand 

Jill Helene, Julia Alexander, and Daniel Pincus 



Julie Kuflik and Michael Doft 

Juliet Kalib and Jill Keiser 

Ophira Cukierman and Noami Rudich 

Ray Javdan and Beverly Bloom 

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