Vineyard Theatre to honor Kathleen Chalfant and Sam Rudy

NEW YORK (AP) - The Vineyard Theatre will next year honor both a Tony Award-nominee who has graced its stage and a man who gets the word out about the powerhouse off-Broadway company's shows.

Actress Kathleen Chalfant and press agent Sam Rudy will be celebrated at the Vineyard's March 14 fundraiser gala at Edison Ballroom. Individual tickets start at $1,000 and tables start at $10,000.

Chalfant, who earned a Tony nod in "Angels in America," made her Vineyard debut in 1983 in Brian Friel's "Faith Healer" and has appeared there in "The Party," ''True History and Real Adventures" and "Somewhere Fun." She has served on the theater company's board for 20 years and is its newly elected president.

"Kathleen Chalfant is one of those rare artists whose extraordinary gifts as an actress are matched by her remarkable humanity and service to the community," Douglas Aibel, co-artistic director of the Vineyard, said in a statement.

Rudy has spent 35 years as a publicist for Broadway and off-Broadway shows, 25 of them representing the Vineyard, including the groundbreaking shows "Three Tall Women," ''The Scottsboro Boys" and "How I Learned to Drive." He is the press agent for the Broadway smash "Hamilton" and also represents Cherry Lane Theatre, La MaMa and Ma-Yi Theater Company.

"Sam Rudy has been a vital part of Vineyard Theatre for 25 years. He is what we call a good old-fashioned press agent, a true gentleman of the theater. Sam is respected in the New York theatre community because of his work and his smarts, but he is beloved because of his heart," Vineyard Executive Producer Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell said in a statement.

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Online: http://www.vineyardtheatre.org