Body of work

Steve Martin and Diane Sawyer were among the guests at The Public Theater’s 50th Anniversary of the Delacorte Theater.

Last Monday night, a week ago, they celebrated The Public Theater’s 50th Anniversary of the Delacorte Theater, home of Shakespeare in the Park beginning with a gala outdoor dinner on the grounds of the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, where they honored Al Pacino for his body of work at The Public Theater. It was a beautiful June night in New York with a cool breeze rustling through the trees to cool off the day. There were a couple hundred dinner guests. Pacino’s words of acknowledgement and thanks were animated and charming. His presence gave a special feeling to the evening.

Then after dinner, there was the show -- a benefit reading of Romeo and Julietfeaturing Kevin Kline as Romeo and Meryl Streep as Juliet, and an all-star cast.

Meryl Streep as Juliet, Kevin Kline as Romeo, and the company in the reading of Romeo and Juliet

Young or new New Yorkers may not know that Shakespeare in the Park was conceived by Public Theater founder Joe Papp as a way to make great theater accessible to all. It was a revolutionary idea in the early 1960s when the entire culture was changing with the liberation movements and the artists who were making New York the center of the Art World. Before Shakespeare in the Park there were very few performances of the Bard of Stratford-on-Avon in the city itself? Papp’s vision changed all that: in the past five decades more than five million people have enjoyed over 150 productions of Shakespeare and other classical works and musicals at the Delacorte Theater, which officially opened on June 18, 1962.

Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis, Public Theater Chairman of the Board Warren Spector, Al Pacino, and Public Theater Executive Director Patrick Willingham

Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis, Gala co-chairs Alexandra Shiva and Arielle Tepper Madover, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate D. Levin, and Public Theater Executive Director Patrick Willingham

Keith Lieberthal and Julianna Margulies

Julia Stiles and David Harbour

Julianna Margulius, Keith Lieberthal, and guests

Evan Jonigkeit, Kathleen Turner, and guests

Renee Elise Goldsberry

Jeffrey Wright

Jeanine Tesori, Mark Harris, and Tony Kushner

Oskar Eustis, Gloria Reuben, Jeremy McCarter, and Laurie Eustis

Dr. George Campbell

Gail Merrifield Papp

Arielle Tepper Madover, Ian Madover, and Pat Schoenfeld

Oskar Eustis and Bob Balaban

Justin and Anne Beeber

Ethan Hawke, Mike Nichols, Diane Sawyer and guest

Ethan Hawke, Mike Nichols, Diane Sawyer, and Louise Grunwald

Oskar Eustis and Chelsea Clinton

Julianna Margulies and Laura Linney

Charles and Clo Cohen

Christine Quinn and Public Theater Chairman of the Board Warren Spector

Patrick Willingham and Reda Ali CHarafeddine

Mike Nichols and Steve Martin

Elizabeth and Sam Peabody

Oskar Eustis, Lily Rabe, and Marc Mezvinsky

Jesse L. Martin, Phylicia Rashad, and Joe Morton

Michael Corcoran and Renee Beaumont

Andrew Saffir and Daniel Benedict

Hettienne Park and Lily Rabe

Oskar Eustis and Stephen Spinella

Sandra Oh and Public Theater Executive Director Patrick Willingham

Sandra Oh and Patrick Willingham

Al Pacino and Kathleen Turner

A packed crowd of 1,000 VIP collectors and guests attended the opening of Art Greenwich aboard the 228-foot mega-yacht SeaFair. The distinguished crowd was in high spirits despite the less than ideal weather conditions, unanimous in their praise of the inaugural May event. Differing from its returning sister fair in September, which will feature 19th and early 20th Century works, as well as haute and period jewelry, the spring edition boasts 28 contemporary galleries and special installations.

Art enthusiasts were not left wanting, with three decks of international artists' works to peruse including works by pop art and post war icons Andy Warhol, James Rosenquist, Robert Rauschenberg, Tom Wesselmann, Robert Indiana, Roy Lichtenstein, Jim Dine, Joan Miro, Francis Bacon, Marc Chagall, Adolph Gottlieb, Helen Frankenthaler, Hans Hofmann and Robert Motherwell.

Jean-Marc-Bara,-Marianne-Bara,-Barbara-Timon,-Cray-Timon

Jean Marc Bara, Marianne Bara, Barbara Timon, and Cray Timon

Wonda Clyatt, Bob Clyatt, and Marko Remee

Elvira and Eduardo Ruiz Huidobro

Tina Williams and Suzy Stewart

Elvira-Ruiz-Huidobro,-Patricia-Arnillas,-Eduardo-Ruiz-Huidobro

Elvira Ruiz Huidobro, Patricia Arnillas, and Eduardo Ruiz Huidobro

Suzan-Hurtuk,-Loren-Costantini,-Brenda-Taylor

Suzan Hurtuk, Loren Costantini, and Brenda Taylor

Betsy-Minor,-Morgan-Glasebrook,-Lance-Minor

Betsy Minor, Morgan Glasebrook, and Lance Minor

Elizabeth-Orlov,-David-Datuna,-Narina-Shuster,-Adriana-Shuster

Elizabeth Orlov, David Datuna, Narina Shuster, and Adriana Shuster

Fernando Luis Alvarez and Rebecca Hansen

Ryan-Odinak,-Tracey-Thomas,-Suzanne-Pacne

Ryan Odinak, Tracey Thomas, and Suzanne Pacne

Sue Lapsien and Jadu

Karen Tscherne and Steve Hartman

Marilyn Simon and Paul Master Karnik

Trevor O'Reilly and Seol Park

Patricia Pond and Ron More

Laura Grad and Nancy Duffy

Andrea Renaud and Reed McMillan

Jennifer Yates and Steve Lergangis

Rozsa Gaston and Joanna Meyer

Julia and Joann Cancro

Katherine Lelarge and Claudia Mollo

Cynthia Whalen

Ian and Anita Shapolsky

Kirsten and Rich Reynolds

Tana Wolski Kazakowitz

Ron Cavalier and Debranne Cingari

Lee Ann Lester and Phil Fine

Over 400 people attended “Bridges to Mental Health: A Celebration of Hope”, benefitting The Mental Health Association of New York City at Cipriani 42nd Street on June 5, 2012. Harry Carson, Sylvia Mackey and Sarah Rainey were the 2012 honorees. MHA-NYC also honored James Introne, New York State deputy Secretary for Health, representing the Cuomo Administration, for their leadership on youth concussion prevention with the passage of the Concussion Management and Awareness Act and the “When in Doubt…Take Them Out” public health campaign.

VIPs attending “Bridges to Mental Health: A Celebration of Hope” included honorees Harry Carson, NY Giants hall of fame Linebacker and Maribel Carson, Sylvia Mackey, creator of the NFL’s “88 Plan”, and Sarah Rainey, youth concussion advocate, as well as Mark Bavaro, two-time Super Bowl champion, Heisman trophy winner Gary Beban, Super Bowl Winner Howard Cross, basketball legend Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Olympic gold medalist ice-skater Sarah Hughes, World Cup Rugby Star Phaidra Knight, and Dallas Cowboys star and Super Bowl winner AB Whitfield.

The MHA NYC Bridges to Mental Health: A Celebration of Hope Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street

Other VIPs attending “Bridges to Mental Health: A Celebration of Hope” included: Gala Dinner Chair Frank Branchini, President and COO, Emblem Health; James Introne, Deputy Secretary of Health, New York State; Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez, Commissioner of Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services; Michael Hogan, Commissioner, New York State Office of Mental Health; Giselle Stolper, President and CEO, MHA-NYC; Kevin J. Danehy, Chair of the Board, MHA-NYC and Sheri Danehy; Margaret Brennan, CBS News Correspondent; Kafi Drexel, Chief Medical and Fitness Reporter, NY1 News Television; Rachael Kun, 60 Minutes and CBS Evening News; Timothy Mandala star of the Vin Diesel series, The Ropes, Rich "Big Daddy" Salgado, President of Coastal Advisors, LLC Insurance Consultants and Nancy Knapp;Mike Woods, Meteorologist and Reporter, Fox 5 Good Day New York and Rita Garza;James Grant, President of JGPRand Camilla Barungi of Project Runway fame.

The Silent Auction

Sheri Danehy and Diana Gaines served as Planning Committee co-chairs. Auction Committee included Sheri Danehy, Beth Mullaney, Janet Robinson, and Denise Shearer. Journal Committee chair was Diana Gaines.

Platinum Sponsors included: Bristol-Meyers Squibb, New York Gracie Square Hospital and Cynthia Zirinsky.

Gold Sponsors: Emdeon, Goldman Sachs, and KKR.

The Mental Health Association of New York City (MHA-NYC) is a nonprofit organization providing life-saving hotlines, programs and services to both New Yorkers and those across the nation.