The Institute’s 50th Anniversary
On Monday, November 4, 2019, the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute celebrated a historic milestone—its 50th Anniversary—with an unforgettable gala at New York University’s Rosenthal Pavilion. The evening raised vital funds for The Lee Strasberg Creative Center, which has provided scholarships to aspiring actors for over four decades. This first-ever benefit in the Institute’s history brought together alumni, faculty, friends, and supporters to honor Lee Strasberg’s lasting legacy.
The gala was co-chaired by alumnus Alec Baldwin and award-winning actress Marlo Thomas. Baldwin took the stage to present a special award to his former teacher, Geoffrey Horne, with heartfelt gratitude and his signature humor:
“Geoffrey Horne taught me that we’re never done. We should never be completely satisfied. In fact, as a result of studying at Strasberg, I’m incapable of being satisfied.”
The evening was filled with special performances and powerful words from Lee’s former students. Renee Taylor performed an excerpt from her play, My Life on a Diet, based on her experience of working with Strasberg at the Actors Studio. Lainie Kazan serenated the audience with a personalized rendition of Johnny Mercer’s I Remember You. And Tony Award winner Ellen Burstyn reflected on her own time with Lee:
“Lee found a way to push me past my barrier. That was hard for me because I was young and cute! I had already started my career and Lee made me realize that I could be better.”
The 50th Anniversary Honorary Committee included Karen Allen, Alec Baldwin, Luca Barbareschi, Tobin Bell, Ellen Burstyn, Arthur Cohn, Kevin Corrigan, Claire Danes, Rebecca De Mornay, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jennifer Esposito, Sally Field, Kathie Lee Gifford, Jamie Hector, Michael Imperioli, Lyle Kessler, Jo Miller, Sienna Miller, Kelli O’Hara, Al Pacino, Estelle Parsons, Martin Sheen, Andrzej Strzelecki, Renee Taylor, Marlo Thomas, and Chandra Wilson.
A New Scholarship and a Lasting Legacy
In a surprise announcement at the evening’s culmination, Marlo Thomas introduced the newly established Lee & Anna Strasberg Scholarship.
“Anna, I know you would’ve nixed this if anybody asked you to put your name on a scholarship, but if there was ever a couple that deserves to have something with their names close together forever, it’s you and Lee.”
Anna Strasberg, visibly moved, shared a memory from the Institute’s founding:
“My husband, Lee, told me to paint the school’s doors red and never lock them. They’re to welcome our students. I’m a grandmother of five, but I’m also the mother of this school, and all my students make me very proud.”
