The late Robert Frankel to be honored by City Theatre
The recipients of the 2017-18 Robert M. Frankel Awards are community leaders David E. Massaro and the Massaro Family, and artist Robert C.T. Steele.
City Theatre has announced the recipients of the 2017-18 Robert M. Frankel Awards: community leaders David E. Massaro and the Massaro Family, and artist Robert C.T. Steele. City Theatre will celebrate the honorees, recognized for their outstanding commitment to new play creation and support, at its spring benefit event, The New Do, on April 20.
Robert M. Frankel was board president at City Theatre for two consecutive terms from 1988 to 1993 and remained a lifetime board member until his passing on Sept. 17, 2017. Frankel’s dedication and service to the cultural landscape of his city has made his name synonymous with leadership in the arts. In 1994, City Theatre created the Robert M. Frankel Awards with a focus on honoring artists and patrons of the arts associated with City Theatre programming.
“As City Theatre looks forward to our next chapter — both in terms of artistic leadership and in plans to renovate our South Side cultural campus — we wanted to make sure we give proper recognition to those that built this theater, both on stage and off, from its inception,” said the theater’s managing director, James McNeel. “Mr. Frankel epitomized this vision, and the award established in his name further honors the countless individuals who share in his passion for City Theatre, the arts, and Pittsburgh.
“Quite frankly, we — and so many organizations in town — would not be here today without them,” McNeel continued. “And while we had decided to elevate the visibility of the Frankel Awards to be included in our spring benefit prior to Mr. Frankel’s passing, obviously his loss to our community last year warrants his legacy to be celebrated, and this was by far the most fitting way we could do that.” PJC
Toby Tabachnick can be reached at ttabachnick@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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