Williamstown Theatre Festival honors Tom Fontana

Emmy Award-winning writer, producer and WTF Board member Tom Fontana will be honored at the Williamstown Theatre Festival’s 2009 Gala, November 16 at 6:00 p.m. at the Prince George Ballroom in New York City.

Tom joined the Williamstown Theatre Festival in 1978, first as self-described “General Factotum” to Artistic Director Nikos Psacharopoulos, and served as Playwright-in-Residence. During the 1981 season, Tom’s play The Spectre Bridegroom attracted the attention of producer and WTF friend Bruce Paltrow, who hired him to write for his new series “St. Elsewhere.” Tom has been unstoppable ever since, injecting his bold theatrical sensibility into the medium of television with ground-breaking shows like “Homicide: Life on the Street,” “Oz,” “The Jury” and “The Philanthropist.”

Kate Burton, Victor Garber, Harriet Harris, Steve Lawson and members of the Williamstown Theatre Festival Non-Equity Company will participate in the event. Past honorees at the Williamstown Theatre Festival Gala include Lewis Black, Kate Burton, Blythe Danner, A.R. Gurney and Tom Stoppard. To request an invitation or to purchase tickets, contact Eric Kerns, Director of Development, at (413) 597-4630.