Cast of All the President's Men. Photo by Jessica Dalene, courtesy of The Center at West Park.
Presented by The Center at West Park
The Center at West Park returns to Guild Hall with a follow-up to last year’s sold-out celebrity benefit: a staged reading of the screenplay of The Big Chill, by Lawrence Kasdan and Barbara Benedek, directed by David Saint and featuring a star-studded cast to be announced! The reading will be followed by a talkback with the cast and creative team. The performance supports CWP’s ongoing affordable, accessible and intergenerational programs serving all five boroughs and audiences and artists alike.
The Big Chill is a consequential film released in 1983, featuring a group of idealistic University of Michigan college friends from the 60’s, gathering 20 years later for the funeral of one of their closest friends, Alex, who took his own life. The friends spend the weekend confronting the personal truths, sacrifices and betrayals that have left them disenchanted. Each must contend with unresolved issues they have with Alex, and with one another.
The Center at West Park
THE CENTER AT WEST PARK (CWP) is an inclusive, multi-generational non-profit organization committed to community, arts & culture, collaboration, diversity, affordability, and accessibility on the Upper West Side and throughout New York City. CWP is committed to maximizing its human and economic resources through collaboration and partnership. CWP serves as an incubator for emerging artists as well as an infrastructure for arts & culture and community groups that don’t have the economic or human resources to showcase their work.
CWP is dedicated to saving the NY Landmark West Park Presbyterian Church and preventing its demolition, as well as to growing CWP programs to serve Upper Manhattan and the five boroughs. The NY Landmark West Park Presbyterian Church enabled CWP to establish a model of financial self-sustainability and a proven track record of affordability, accessibility, inclusivity and diversity which is now reflected in programming taking place throughout NYC. CWP enables community programs, advanced artists at all career stages, ensures that audiences as well as aspiring creators interact with renowned artists and community leaders, and supports programs which are committed to growing community and ensuring the heart and soul of NYC.The Center at West Park, Inc. is a secular, 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization.
