The La Jolla Playhouse is putting on a gay affair. Jesse Tyler Ferguson – half of the gay couple in the hit ABC comedy Modern Family – is hosting the Playhouse’s 2011 gala, March 19, and he’s not the only gay highlight.
Entitled La Jolla Playhouse Honors, the gala celebrates the theatre’s achievements by recognizing the performers, creators and community supporters who enrich the Playhouse’s past, present and future. This year’s top honorees are a who’s who in gay stage, including Doug Wright and BD Wong.
Wright is a playwright and author of I Am My Own Wife. The show, which tells the story of a transgendered man living in Nazi-controlled Germany, originated at the Playhouse as the first Page To Stage production. The show has won the 2004 Tony for Best Play and the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
Out actor BD Wong is a Tony award-winning actor, best known for his cross-dressing role in M. Butterfly. He appeared in the Playhouse’s acclaimed 2009 production of Herringbone.
Set designer Robert Brill (The Wiz) is also being honored.
This year’s event boasts a 1920s “supper club” atmosphere, featuring a dynamic new seating experience, multi-level platforms and custom banquettes, designed for the event by the Playhouse’s acclaimed scene shop.
Additional information about the gala is available at lajollaplayhouse.org.
