Broadway heavyweights Beau Bridges and Kenny Leon gossiping.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), a national organization that promotes and supports American theater (as well as serves as the United State’s largest independent publisher of dramatic literature) rung in 50 years of success with a glitzy gala Monday night at Espace in Midtown Manhattan.

Theater legends Beau Bridges, Ben Vereen, William Ivey Long and Tonya Pinkins joined emcees Sally Struthers and Jennifer Cody for the memorable charitable evening.

“Many of the wonderful experiences that I’ve had onstage are directly related to the funding and care that TCG has put in to supporting their 500 member theaters,” said Ms. Struthers to the audience.

Teresa Eyring with honorees Vicki Reiss of the Shubert Foundation, Kenny Leon and Judith O. Rubin.

In addition to raising funds for the many grants, productions and events the TCG helps to sustain, attendees came to honor executive committee member and Playwrights Horizons Board chairman Judy Rubin, the venerable Shubert Foundation and Tony-nominated director Kenny Leon.

Another treat from the evening was a medley of previews for upcoming productions Super Fly, Hands on a Hardbody (a La Jolla Playhouse production) and the Dallas theaters’ upcoming spectacle, Giant.

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