Roundabout star Boyd Gaines with founding Chairman's Circle member Alice Silkworth

This year Roundabout celebrates its 40th Anniversary and the longtime friends who helped us make it this far.

How does a not-for-profit company manage to stay alive and thrive for four decades? A big part of the secret of our success is the Chairman's Circle program, whose members provide extraordinary financial support each and every year. To thank these generous friends and honor their important role at the theatre, Roundabout launched our 40th Anniversary celebrations on September 27th, 2005, with a new program to recognize our most dedicated Chairman's Circle members.

Leadership Council member and Volunteer Coordinator Pat Stockhausen and her husband Mike Emmerman welcomed Roundabout's closest circle of friends to their beautiful townhouse for this special celebration. Honored guests included Chairman's Circle members who have supported Roundabout for a decade or more, including some of the founding members who started this special group in 1990. Director of Development Jeffory Lawson presented each member with a specially crafted lapel pin recognizing their years of service to the theatre. Now, when they attend Roundabout shows and wear their recognition pins, house staff members will be able to identify and thank our “vip's” throughout the season.

The highlight of the event was an emotional speech by Roundabout favorite Boyd Gaines, thanking these longtime supporters for funding his artistic home. Of the eight Broadway shows this Tony Award winning actor has appeared in, five have been at Roundabout. And, of course, Boyd's 1994 Tony® Award as Best Actor in a Musical was for our very first musical revival, She Loves Me. He passionately described how much it means to him to have a haven like Roundabout, where he is nurtured as an artist, and where he has made life long friendships and relationships. He saved his highest praise for the Chairman's Circle members, whose generosity continues to support all of Roundabout's work, on stage and off.

Our gracious hosts: Pat Stockhausen and Mike Emmerman

From an original group of 17 people in 1990, the Chairman's Circle today is more than 650 members strong. Together, these generous individuals contribute over $2 million annually to support Roundabout's work on and off stage, including all seven productions and our nationally recognized Education programs. Their dedication and belief in our work played a major role in making Roundabout such an important part of the cultural life of New York City and the nation.

Executive Director Julia Levy notes, “We really think of our Chairman's Circle members as part of the family here, and I am truly moved to see that so many of them have chosen to support our work for over ten years. As we have grown and moved around the City, they have been right there beside us, providing critical funding through thick and thin, and for that we remain forever grateful.” So when you visit our theatres and see audience members wearing their Chairman's Circle pins, know that they have helped us reach this milestone 40th Anniversary-and say hello!

For information on becoming a member of the Chairman's Circle,
please call Julia Lazarus, Director of Individual Giving, at 212-719-9393.

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