Last night, Classic Stage Company marked its 50th birthday with a gala celebration at Bohemian National Hall on the Upper East Side, recognizing Artistic Director John Doyle and Board Chair Lynn Angelson. The evening featured special guest performances from Doyle’s New York career including Cynthia Erivo, Judy Kuhn, and Donna McKechnie.
Lynn Angelson and John Doyle. Photo by Lia Chang
A handpicked company of artists who have worked with John Doyle on past productions, the Doylies, including 2018 Lortel nominees Thom Sesma and Steven Eng (Pacific Overtures), Quincy Tyler Bernstine (As You Like It), along with George Abud, Keith Buterbaugh, Karl Josef Co, Matthew Deming, Ben Diskant, David Michael Garry, Megan Masako Haley, Lee Harrington, Amy Justman, Emily Mechler, Orville Mendoza, Kelvin Moon Loh, Megan Loomis, Jane Pfitsch, Leenya Rideout, Fred Rose, Bruce Sabath, Antoine L. Smith, Rema Webb, Elisa Winter, Jessica Tyler Wright, and Katrina Yaukey, also performed.
2018 Lucille Lortel nominees Thom Sesma, Quincy Tyler Bernstine and Steven Eng. Photo by Lia Chang
Cynthia Erivo and Patti LuPone served as honorary co-chairs; with Barbara H. Marks as the event chair. The evening also featured a live auction hosted by actor Will Roland.
1st row: Fred Rose, Orville Mendoza, George Abud, Katrina Yaukey, Jane Pfitsch, Thom Sesma, Karl Josef Co, Emily Mechler, Bruce Sabath. 2nd row: Lee Harrington, Leenya Rideout, Phoenix Best, Benjamin Diskant, Rema Webb, Keith Buterbaugh, Amy Justman, Megan Loomis, Matthew Deming, Megan Masako Haley, Kimberly Immanuel, Jessica Tyler Wright, David Michael Garry, Elisa Winter. Photo by Lia ChangSome of the Drama League nominated cast of Classic Stage Company’s PACIFIC OVERTURES – Steven Eng, Orville Mendoza, Thom Sesma, Kimberly Immanuel, Megan Masako Haley, Kelvin Moon Loh, Karl Josef Co. Photo by Lia ChangGenevieve Angelson and Lynn Angelson. Photo by Lia ChangAmy Justman, John Doyle, Barbara Walsh and Thom Sesma. Photo by Lia ChangOrville Mendoza, Kelvin Moon Loh, John Doyle and Steven Eng. Photo by Lia ChangGeorge Abud and Quincy Tyler Bernstine. Photo by Lia ChangThree Sweeneys – David Michael Garry, Thom Sesma, Orville Mendoza. Photo by Lia ChangAkron Watson, Rema Webb and Phoenix Best. Photo by Lia Chang
Jamie deRoy and John Doyle. Photo by Lia Chang
Jordan Roth and John Doyle. Photo by Lia Chang
Thom Sesma. Photo by Lia Chang
Quincy Tyler Bernstine. Photo by Lia Chang
Steven Eng. Photo by Lia Chang
Thom Sesma. Photo by Lia Chang
Quincy Tyler Bernstine. Photo by Lia Chang
Steven Eng. Photo by Lia Chang
ROAD SHOW reunion – David Michael Garry, Katrina Yaukey and Orville Mendoza. Photo by Lia Chang
Genevieve Angelson. Photo by Lia Chang
David Michael Garry, Fred Rose, Amy Justman, Keith Buterbaugh, Amy Justman, Leenya Rideout, Jane Pfitsch, Jessica Tyler Wright, Bruce Sabath. Seated: Keith Buterbaugh, Jane Pfitsch, Katrina Yaukey. Photo by Lia Chang
Fred Rose, David Michael Garry, Matthew Deming, Lee Harrington, Jessica Tyler Wright, Bruce Sabath, Benjamin Diskant, Jane Pfitsch and Leenya Rideout. Photo by Lia Chang
PASSION REUNION – Amy Justman and Orville Mendoza. Photo by Lia Chang
Elisa Winter, David Michael Garry, Jessica Tyler Wright, Katrina Yaukey, Megan Loomis, Keith Buterbaugh. Photo by Lia Chang
THE VISIT reunion – George Abud, Emily Mechler and Matthew Deming. Photo by Lia Chang
Jane Pfitsch, Jessica Tyler Wright, George Abud and Megan Loomis. Photo by Lia Chang
PACIFIC OVERTURES – Karl Josef Co, Kimberly Immanuel, Orville Mendoza and Thom Sesma. Photo by Lia Chang
PACIFIC OVERTURES – Steven Eng, Orville Mendoza, Thom Sesma, Kimberly Immanuel, Megan Masako Haley, Kelvin Moon Loh, Karl Josef Co. Photo by Lia Chang
PACIFIC OVERTURES – Megan Masako Haley and Kimberly Immanuel. Photo by Lia Chang
George Abud and Emily Mechler. Photo by Lia Chang
THE COLOR PURPLE reunion – Akron Watson, Rema Webb and Phoenix Best. Photo by Lia Chang
PACIFIC OVERTURES – Megan Masako Haley, Thom Sesma, Orville Mendoza, Kimmy Immanuel and Karl Josef Co. Photo by Lia Chang
Karl Josef Co. Photo by Lia Chang
PACIFIC OVERTURES – Thom Sesma and Orville Mendoza. Photo by Lia Chang
PACIFIC OVERTURES – Steven Eng, Thom Sesma, Karl Josef Co, Kelvin Moon Loh, Orville Mendoza. Photo by Lia Chang
Lia Chang and Orville Mendoza
Since 1967, Classic Stage Company, CSC, has been committed to re-imagining classic stories for contemporary audiences. the company has been a home for New York’s finest established and emerging artists to grapple with the great works of the world’s repertory that speak directly to the issues of today. CSC serves an average of 35,000 audience members annually, including more than 4,000 students through its nationally recognized education programs. Productions have been cited repeatedly by all the major Off-Broadway theater awards including the Obie, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, and the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Body of Work.
Kimberly Immanuel and Megan Masako Haley. Photo by Lia ChangLia Chang. Photo by Lori Tan Chinn
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films, making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Bev’s Girl Films’ debut short film, Hide and Seek was a top ten film in the Asian American Film Lab’s 2015 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition, and she received a Best Actress nomination. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. Lia is also an internationally published and exhibited photographer, a multi-platform journalist, and a publicist. Lia has appeared in the filmsWolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek. She is profiled in Jade Magazine and Playbill.com
