about the honoree

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Preston Whiteway first joined the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center as General Manager in 2004, he was named CEO/Producer in December 2019, after serving with the same duties as Executive Director since 2007. Under his leadership, the O’Neill was awarded both the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama in 2016 and the 2010 Regional Theater Tony Award. Since 2005, the O’Neill’s budget has nearly tripled, with especially strong earned revenue growth in his time. Significant projects developed at the O’Neill in Mr. Whiteway’s tenure include: In The Heights (2005); [title of show] (2005); The Receptionist (2006); Tales of the City (2009); The Happiest Song Plays Last (2011); The Nether (2013); Superhero (2017); and Slave Play (2018). While at the O’Neill, he secured a new 60-year lease of the grounds, completed significant facility investments and repairs to every building, and completed the largest expansion in the organization’s history, with nine new buildings and major new programming launched as part of an $8 million capital campaign. These new programs included a doubling of enrollment for the National Theater Institute, with new musical theater training. In spring 2017, Mr. Whiteway produced a Broadway concert of Tales of the City at the Music Box Theatre, benefiting the O’Neill and The Trevor Project. And for the organization’s 50th Anniversary in 2014, he negotiated a major book release from Yale University Press, resulting in The O’Neill: The Transformation of Modern American Theater by Jeffrey Sweet and also acted as photography editor. Additionally, he produced a four-month exhibition at the New York Library for the Performing Arts entitled "Launchpad of the American Theater: The O’Neill Since 1964." Both projects chart the enormous role the O’Neill played in shaping the American theater landscape – its artists, the canon of work, and innovation of new forms. Mr. Whiteway joined the O’Neill upon graduating from Duke University, with a BA in Economics. Since coming to the O’Neill, he has served on panels at the National Endowment for the Arts, Duke University, and Theater Communications Group; has been profiled by the New York Times, Hartford Courant, and CBS Sunday Morning; and is a trustee of the Educational Theater Foundation and Southeastern Connecticut Cultural Coalition. In 2014, he was named to a three-year term to the nominating committee of the Tony Awards. He recently joined Tribeca Productions as a Creative Development Consultant, and will continue in that role after departing the O'Neill in August 2020.

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about the monte cristo award

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The Monte Cristo Award is presented to a prominent individual each year in recognition of a distinguished career exemplifying Eugene O’Neill’s “pioneering spirit, unceasing artistic commitment, and excellence,” and furthering the American theater.
Past recipients of the Award include actors Judith Light, Meryl Streep, Michael Douglas, Nathan Lane, Christopher Plummer, James Earl Jones, Jason Robards, Jr., Zoe Caldwell, Brian Dennehy, & Karl Malden; playwrights John Logan, August Wilson, Wendy Wasserstein, Edward Albee, & Neil Simon; directors Harold Prince & George C. Wolfe; and Lin-Manuel Miranda & Arthur & Barbara Gelb.

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tickets & party packs

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TICKET TYPES

• Virtual Ticket $25 - Admission for one (1) to the 2020 Monte Cristo Award virtual event.

• Give One $25 - Match your personal ticket purchase with the purchase of a ticket that will go to O'Neill artists, students, and alum.

• Virtual Ticket + Post-Show Ad $75 - Get your ticket for the show and receive a custom ad to play during the thank you scroll post-show. Leave a special message for our honoree, promote your business by taking advantage of our logo option, or both!

• Virtual Ticket + Pre-Show Ad $125 - Get your ticket for the show and receive a custom ad to play during the thank you scroll post-show. Leave a special message for our honoree, promote your business by taking advantage of our logo option, or both!

PARTY PACK UPGRADES FOR LOCAL GUESTS Beer'd Party Package $30 - Take your evening up a notch with this great party package from our friends at Beer'd! Includes:

• A mixed four-pack of their Great American Beer Fest lineup (Dogs & Boats, Dogs vs. Shinobi, 8 Days a Week, and Connecticut Casual)
• Two Beer'd Koolize
• Beer'd Tote

Orders must be placed by Wednesday, September 30th for pick up at the Beer'd Silo in Groton, CT from 12-5pm on Sunday, October 4th. Ivy's MCA Dinner - Chicken $29 Get your Gala dinner set up today with a specially crafted takeout meal from our friends at Ivy's in Waterford, CT! Includes:

• Spinach, Sun-Dried Tomato and Feta Stuffed Chicken Breast over Herbaceous Quinoa
• Grilled Vegetable Stack
• Arugula Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash, Dried Cranberries, Crumbled Feta and Maple Vinaigrette
• Apple Crisp Tart

Orders must be placed by Monday, September 28 at Noon for pick up between 2-4pm on Sunday, October 4th. Ivy's MCA Dinner - Vegetarian $24 Get your Gala dinner set up today with a specially crafted takeout meal from our friends at Ivy's in Waterford,CT! Includes:

• Stuffed Red Pepper with Quinoa, Spinach and Artichokes
• Butter Bean Salad with Roasted Garlic Oil, Celery and Fresh Parsley
• Arugula Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash, Dried Cranberries, Crumbled Feta and Maple Vinaigrette
• Apple Crisp Tart

Orders must be placed by Monday, September 28 at Noon for pick up between 2-4pm on Sunday, October 4th.

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