The Show Must Go On

Penguin Rep Theatre will hold its annual fundraising gala on Saturday, September 10. The 2022 honorees include Edie Falco, the multiple Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG winner and Stage Manager Michael Palmer who has overseen 20 productions for Penguin Rep in Stony Point and New York City. The great Bill Irwin, actor, director, writer and clown has stepped in to be at the gala and provide entertainment.

Orange and Rockland Utilities will be the recipient of the first Morton Wolkowitz Business Award. “Morton Wolkowitz was a great friend and big supporter of Penguin – in a word, a mensch,” says Penguin Rep founding Artistic Director Joe Brancato. “His vision, camaraderie and generosity made it possible for many Penguin productions to move to New York City, including Tom Dudzick’s “Miracle on South Division Street” (St. Luke’s), Erasmus Fenn’s “Drop Dead Perfect” (Theatre at St. Clements) and Michael McKeever’s “After” (59e59). He even produced shows himself, which originated in Stony Point, to Off Broadway, including Karolyn Leach’s “Tryst” (Promenade) and James Sherman’s “Door to Door” (Westside Arts).

“Given Orange and Rockland Utilities leadership and support of nonprofit organizations, especially performing arts organizations navigating a return to live performances following the Covid-19 pandemic, we could think of no more worthy recipient of the award that bears Morty’s name,” says Executive Director Andrew M. Horn.

Celebrations will begin at 3:00 PM with musical entertainment featuring Broadway actress Rita Harvey and Neil Berg and the star of the recent Penguin Rep hit “Breath & Imagination,” Mr. Jesse Means, accompanied by Ben Rauch at the theatre at 7 Crickettown Road in Stony Point.

There will be a gourmet dinner afterward catered by Hudson’s Mill Tavern under the direction of Jimmy Guarasci at the Gilmore Sloane Mansion at 185 West Main Street, next to the theatre. Tickets are $200 per person. RSVPs are required by September 3 by visiting: https://penguinreptheatre.csstix.com/tickets.php?type=general-admission&c=2396&e=505&d=2483

Prior gala honorees include Academy Award nominee Anita Gillette in 2019; Ann Dowd, winner of the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance as Aunt Lydia in “The Handmaid’s Tale,” in 2018; Barbara Feldon, actress (Agent 99 on “Get Smart”) and author, in 2017; and Stony Point native Stephanie Courtney, Flo on the Progressive commercials, in 2016.

“Celebrating and showing support for Penguin Rep is more important than ever in these times,” Brancato says. “We hope the entire Rockland County community will join us in this celebration by either attending the gala or buying tickets for one of our fabulous shows which run through October 23rd this year.” More information can be found at www.penguinrep.org.

About Penguin Rep Theatre

Under the leadership of founding Artistic Director Joe Brancato and executive director Andrew M. Horn, Penguin Rep Theatre has grown in 40 years from a summer theatre in a converted 1880's hay barn to become one of the Hudson Valley's most influential nonprofit cultural institutions. Dubbed by The New York Times as "the gutsiest little theatre,” Penguin Rep has entertained more than 400,000 people with outstanding productions of 150 plays including new works by established and emerging writers.