Show Teachers the Love!
Early in May, during National Teacher Month, we put on a star-studded variety show that celebrates teachers. It’s also our only fundraiser, but it’s a special kind of fundraiser because half the audience are teachers who come for free to feel the love. The other half are donors who come to show it. There’s joy in the air.
A moving highlight of the evening is the presentation of the Woodridge Award for Great Teachers, given by successful people to the teachers who changed their lives.
Show Teachers the Love!
May 8, 2023
New-York Historical Society
Photos by Sean Lassiter and Patrick McMullan.
2023 Performers
Bonnie McFarlane made her national breakthrough on NBC’s Last Comic Standing, and has made multiple appearances on both The Late Show and The Tonight Show. Her comedy specials have aired on HBO and Comedy Central. McFarlane directed the 2014 documentary feature Women Aren’t Funny and published the memoir You’re Better than Me in 2016. McFarlane is cohost (with her husband, comedian Rich Vos) of the popular podcast My Wife Hates Me.
Rosie’s Theater Kids (RTKids) was founded in 2003 to address the dearth of arts education for underrepresented New York City public school students. RTKids enriches the lives of children who otherwise would lack the opportunity to experience musical theater, positively changing the trajectory of their lives by providing comprehensive classes in music, dance, and drama; thoughtful mentoring; and structured academic guidance.
Keith Nelson learned to juggle and eat fire at Hampshire College in 1989. He moved to New York City and almost instantly devoted his life to the circus. He is co-founder and executive director of Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, one of the longest-running circus and variety arts companies in New York. Keith has been featured on Late Night with David Letterman, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with James Corden, OZ (season one). For the past two years, he has produced Bindlestiff's Flatbed Follies, a rolling free circus show playing to neighborhoods across New York.
The Woodridge Award for Great Teachers
The Woodridge Award is presented annually by an accomplished person to the K-12 teacher who most helped them on their way.
Photo by Rogerline Johnson, Johnson Studio, Helena, Arkansas
Angel Co-Chairs
- Catherine Aresty
- Steven Aresty
- Nick Lembo & Pat Swain
- Giovanna Marazzi & David Sassoon
- Ilse Melamid
- Diana & Charles Revson
- Mary & Alok Singh
Co-Chairs
- Paula Butler
- Elizabeth B. Dater
- Megan Flanigan & Rick Swift
- Agnes Gund
- Caroline S. McBride
- Barbara G. Raho
Benefit Committee
- Julia Alvarez*
- Sonja Bartlett
- Cece & Louis Black
- David W. Blight*
- Douglas P. Catalano & Judi Tytel
- Roz Chast*
- Susan Choi*
- Carol Crapple
- Michael Cunningham*
- Jennifer Egan
- Oskar* & Laurie Eustis
- Phil Galdston* & Nancy Tarshis*
- Henry Louis Gates, Jr.*
- Lucile & Richard Glasebrook
- Michael Glazebrook
- Tonne Goodman
- Wendy Goodman
- Aisha Haynes
- Patricia Hayot
- Amy Hungerford* & Peter Chemery
- Joy & Emily Hurd
- Amber Joseph
- Peter Marrs
- Meredith Monk*
- Rebecca Montville** & Krzysztof Kozlowski
- Julianne Moore
- Mary & Garrett Moran
- Mallory Neidich & Teddy Kalborg
- Kate Niehaus
- Regina Pitaro
- Jane Pollock & Phil Berney
- Tripp Revson & Melise Senaydin
- Joanie & Maurice Reznik
- Leslee & David Rogath
- Karen Russell* & Tony Perez
- Holly & Michael Schechter
- Monica & Rick Segal
- Nadine Shaoul & Mark Schonberger
- Gloria Steinem*
- Ruben Toldeo*
- Sam Swope & Jim Tryforos
- Will & CeCe Thompson
- Wayne & Susan Tobias
- Abbie Wyman
- Jerry Zaks*
*led an Academy for Teachers master class
**Academy for Teachers Fellow
Lists as of March 13, 2023.
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