Stephen McKinley Henderson has worked on stages throughout the United States and abroad, on and off Broadway, and in television and film. His eight Broadway performances include BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY (Tony nomination), FENCES (Tony nomination), A RAISIN IN THE SUN, MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM, and A DOLL’S HOUSE PART 2. Off Broadway roles include LAByrinth Theatre Company’s THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT and Second Stage Theater’s JITNEY (Drama Desk, Obie, and Audelco awards for outstanding ensemble). He is the 2023 recipient of the Drama Desk’s Harold Prince Lifetime Achievement Award. His stage directing credits include Signature Theater’s ZOOMAN AND THE SIGN, ALI! in New York, London, and Atlanta, and THE MEETING for St. Louis Black Repertory Theater presented at the Kennedy Center. Stephen’s work appears in six Oscar nominated films: DUNE; Fences; Lady Bird; LINCOLN; Manchester by the Sea; and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. In his freshman year at Lincoln University in Missouri, a historically black institution, he auditioned for John Houseman and Michael Kahn and became a member of Group l, Juilliard Drama Division in 1968. His conservatory training continued at North Carolina School of the Arts (BFA) where he served as president of the student government and at Purdue University Graduate School (MA), where he was Director of the Drama Workshop for the Black Cultural Center. Stephen was part of a master class taught by Lloyd Richards at the Actor’s Center and he continued to study with Mr. Richards on a Fox Foundation Fellowship for three years. He is a Lunt and Fontanne Ten Chimneys Fellowship Teacher and a former Chair of the University at Buffalo Department of Theatre and Dance. John Houseman cited Stephen’s work as a student in his memoir, Final Dress, and Dr. Samuel Hay cites his work as an actor, director, and educator in his text, African American Theater, A Critical Analysis.

JOAN M. WARBURG AWARD HONOREE

William H.

Wright, II

for his remarkable philanthropic leadership and extraordinary contributions to the arts

William H. Wright is an expert in investment banking, finance and corporate governance. Most recently, he was a managing director at Morgan Stanley. Wright retired in 2010, after 28 years with the firm. During his career in investment banking, he was a trustee of the Morgan Stanley Foundation. Wright has been consulted on securities regulation reform by the Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Corporation Finance and the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services. He has also served on the faculties of the Ray Garrett Institute of the Northwestern University School of Law and the Practicing Law Institute.

Wright is chair of the board of trustees at Doris Duke Foundation, he sits on the board of Mount Sinai Health System, Inc. and its seven member institutions, and he is a member of the board of directors of the New York City Ballet, where he serves as co-chairman of the New Combinations Fund and is chair of the Diversity Equity and Belonging Committee. Wright has also served as senior warden of St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue and is currently a vestryman of Trinity Church Wall Street. In 2012, the Bishop of New York appointed him as a trustee of the Diocese where he served as the first chairman of the finance committee. He is also treasurer and a member of the board of trustees of Historic Hudson, as well as of the Josiah Macy Foundation, where he became board chairman in October 2010. In 2000, Wright was elected a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Wright received a Bachelor of Arts in history from Yale University, where he continues to be involved and served as a member of the board of directors of the Yale Alumni Fund until 2001. He was also awarded the Yale Medal, which is the highest honor afforded to alumni for distinguished service to the university. Wright also received a master’s degree in business administration from the Darden School of the University of Virginia, where he was named the Thomas I. Storrs Fellow, received the C. Stewart Sheppard Award for public service and was elected to University Raven Honor Society.

Thank you!

Group I Acting Company (dba The Acting Company) is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit charity. FEIN 13-2759292. Donations made in support of our mission and programs are tax deductible, less the fair market value of goods and services per dinner guest.