The ALS Association Golden West Chapter to Honor
Filmmakers of “The Theory of Everything” and “Still Alice”

March 12, 2015 - Los Angeles, California    

The ALS Association Golden West Chapter is pleased to announce the honorees for its 2015 Gala- “One Starry Night:  From Broadway to Hollywood,” a musical and entertainment extravaganza to be held on Monday, April 20 at the Pasadena Playhouse. This one-night-only benefit features performances and appearances by an exciting gathering of Broadway and Hollywood talent. In addition to the show, the Golden West Chapter’s Essey Awards will be presented to notable members of the ALS community for their outstanding efforts in support of our mission-priorities in public awareness, care services, and research. The chapter’s prestigious Essey Awards are given annually to esteemed members of the ALS community and are named in honor of one of its founders, Richard Essey.

The ALS Association Golden West Chapter is proud to recognize the following honorees for outstanding achievements in the fight against ALS:

• THE 2015 SPOTLIGHT AWARD- The Filmmakers of “The Theory of Everything”
  The Spotlight Award is presented to individuals and companies who help to raise ALS awareness by educating the public about the experience of living with ALS and the impact the disease has on loved ones and caregivers. The Golden West Chapter proudly presents this year’s Spotlight Award to the filmmakers of the Academy Award-winning film, “The Theory of Everything.” The movie, its cast and crew, the companies behind its production, and its real-life subjects – the Hawking family – have inspired the ALS community. 

• THE 2015 SPIRIT AWARD- Richard Glatzer & Wash Westmoreland, Writers/Directors of “Still Alice”
  The Spirit Award is presented to individuals who have displayed extraordinary determination while living with ALS. Richard Glatzer, who recently lost his battle with ALS, along with his husband Wash Westmoreland, adapted and directed, “Still Alice,” earning Julianne Moore a 2015 Academy Award. Shortly before receiving the green light to begin production on the film, Richard was diagnosed with ALS, yet both he and Wash persevered to complete their work on this acclaimed project. As a part of the Spirit Award’s presentation and tribute to Richard and Wash,  we are pleased to have Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winner Ed Asner and George Newbern (ABC’s “Scandal”) performing an excerpt from “Tuesdays with Morrie.”

In addition, the Golden West Chapter will celebrate Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for having earned the distinguished designation as an ALS Association Certified Treatment Center of Excellence. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is the only Certified Treatment Center of Excellence in southern California, and a flagship program in the country. Academy Award-winning actress Renee Zellweger will participate in presenting the Cedars’ team with a plaque recognizing this outstanding achievement and Cedar’s commitment to ALS care and the search for an effective treatment and cure.

Grammy Award-nominee Bruce Kimmel will direct the production, with musical direction and orchestrations provided by Richard Allen. This star-studded event has a growing cast list which includes (in alphabetical order) Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor Ed Asner, Micky Dolenz (“The Monkees”), Juliana Hansen (NBC’s “Grease, You're The One That I Want!”), Jean Louisa Kelly (“Mr. Holland's Opus”), Wendy Liebman (“The Aristocrats”), Timothy Omundson (ABC's “Galavant”), Reagan Pasternak (Disney Channel's  "In A Heartbeat,"), Jason Ritter (NBC's “Parenthood”), Richard Sherman (Academy Award-winning Composer Disney's “Mary Poppins”, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, “The Jungle Book”), Bruce Vilanch (Broadway's “ Hairspray”), Academy Award-winning actress Renee Zellweger, and more to be announced.  The evening will also include a pre-show silent auction and reception, and post-show dessert with a special “meet-and-greet” with the cast.

Proceeds will provide funding for The ALS Association Golden West Chapter’s mission critical priorities in care services, public policy, and cutting-edge global research toward treatments and cure for ALS. For tickets and more information, please visit our website.

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