On Monday, December 4, 2006, more than 310 guests attended The MacDowell Colony’s New York benefit, MacDowell Celebrates! 100 Years of Giving Artists Freedom to Create at The University Club in New York City. The evening, which honored artists and their creativity, launched MacDowell’s yearlong, nationwide Centennial celebration.

Proceeds from this benefit event help make possible residencies for more than 250 artists each year. This year’s benefit raised more than $345,000 in support of The MacDowell Colony’s residency program.

Rosamond Putnam and Thomas and Barbara Putnam were honorary chairmen, and Colony Fellows Michael Chabon, Osvaldo Golijov, and Ayelet Waldman were the honorary artist chairmen.

MacDowell Chairman, Robert MacNeil, served as master of ceremonies for the evening’s program, which included a special Centennial presentation by honorary chairman and board member Thomas Putnam. Board member David Baum auctioned a first edition of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, which was generously donated by Bob and Stephanie Olmsted. The program, directed by Lucy Sexton, featured lively performances by Matt Cavenaugh and Erin Davie from the Broadway musical Grey Gardens, which was composed at the Colony by Scott Frankel, Michael Korie, and Doug Wright; by Eli Wallach, Anne Jackson, and members of the Martha Graham Dance Company in tribute to the music of Aaron Copland; by Steve Lawson, Paul Rudnick, Jill Eikenberry, and Michael Tucker celebrating the creativity of Wendy Wasserstein; and by Tony Award-nominated writer, actress, and MacDowell Colony Fellows Lisa Kron with composer Michael Friedman in a salute to the Centennial, directed by MacDowell Board member, Colony Fellow, and performance artist Dan Hurlin.

We are especially grateful to our chairmen Ruth M. Feder and Helen S. Tucker for helping to create such a wonderful event. Special thanks to the Artists Committee, chaired by Katie Firth and Colony Fellow Steve Lawson.

The MacDowell Colony’s 2008 Centennial Gala will take place on Monday, December 3rd. Additional details will be announced in the near future. For further information or to receive an invitation to the Centennial Gala, please e-mail development@macdowellcolony.org or call Elena Quevedo at 212-535-9690.

Robert MacNeil and Tom Putnam toast the launch of The MacDowell Colony's Centennial Celebration.