John Lithgow to Receive Red Bull Theater’s Matador Award; Santino Fontana and Others to Perform

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Guests include Michael Emerson, Laila Robins, Hamish Linklater, Lily Rabe, and more.

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Red Bull Theater will honor John Lithgow , Tony Award nominee for this season’s Giant, with the Matador Award for Achievement in Classical Theater, and Joanna Cole, a major supporter of Red Bull Theater since 2005, will receive the George Mayer Award for Extraordinary Service to Classical Theater at The Running of the Red Bulls Gala Benefit on Monday, June 1. Cocktails and a Silent Auction will begin at 6:00PM, followed by dinner, awards, and entertainment at 7:00PM. The intimate and elegant evening will be held at The Bowery Hotel.

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Hosted by Santino Fontana , the evening will feature special performances by Norbert Leo Butz and Nikki Renée Daniels, along with additional surprises. Guests, including Michael Emerson , Laila Robins , Hamish Linklater , Lily Rabe , Reg Rogers , Grantham Coleman , Mary Testa , Robert Cuccioli , Luis Quintero, Miriam Silverman and Mark Linn Baker, will enjoy exquisite dining, a silent auction, and the opportunity to gather with the Red Bull Theater family of artists and supporters.

The Matador Award for Extraordinary Achievement in Classical Theater is a distinguished honor presented annually by Red Bull Theater at its Running of the Red Bulls gala, celebrating individuals whose achievements in Classical theater performance have had a profound effect on audiences and organizations alike. Previous honorees have included John Douglas Thompson , Alfred Molina , Julie Taymor , Kate Burton , Andre´ De Shields , Daniel Sullivan , Charlayne Woodard , Michael Kahn , Jack O'Brien, Olympia Dukakis , Patrick Page , Sir Patrick Stewart , Richard Easton , F. Murray Abraham , and Lynn Redgrave . The Matador Award for Extraordinary Talent in Classical Theater has previously been awarded to Condola Rashad , Ismenia Mendes , Oscar Isaac , Olivia Reis , Liev Schreiber , Martha Plimpton , Juliet Rylance , Hamish Linklater , Matthew Rauch , Lily Rabe , Michael Stuhlbarg , and Michael Urie .

The George Mayer Award for Extraordinary Service to Classical Theater is a distinguished honor presented annually by Red Bull Theater at its Running of the Red Bulls Gala, celebrating individuals and organizations whose sustained contributions have significantly strengthened, supported, and advanced classical theater beyond the stage. Named for longtime champion George Wm. Mayer Jr., the award recognizes the indispensable work of advocates, educators, philanthropists, and institutions whose service undergirds the broader ecosystem of classical performance. Past recipients include The Noël Coward Foundation, K. Ann McDonald , The Axe-Houghton Foundation, Jim Bredeson , Theatre Development Fund , American Theatre Wing, Fund for the City of New York, The Lucille Lortel Theatre Foundation, Off-Broadway Angels, Alliance of Resident Theaters/New York, Arts in the Armed Forces, The Shakespeare Society, Katherine Hood, The Michael Tuch Foundation, Howard Owens , The Angelo Patri Middle School, and Heather Randall . Honorees exemplify a deep commitment to fostering access, sustainability, education, and innovation within the classical theater field, highlighting the vital interplay between artistic tradition and community-building that keeps this form vibrant and relevant.

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-broadway/article/John-Lithgow-to-be-Honored-by-Red-Bull-Theater-Santino-Fontana-and-More-to-Perform-20260520)._