ASU Gammage Hosts ‘Gammy & Jerry’ Awards Dinner to Honor Theater-Supporting Superstars
ASU Gammage honored two families for the contributions to the arts community at the Gammy and Jerry Awards Dinner on March 21 at the ASU Gammage.
The 2016 Gammy Award recipient is the Cerveris family, including Dr. Michael Cerveris, Michael Cerveris, Todd Cerveris and Marisa Cerveris, with a special recognition to Marsha Cerveris Quinn.
Dr. Michael Cerveris accepts the Gammy Award from Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, ASU Gammage executive director, alongside Marisa, Michael and Todd Cerveris.
The father of Michael, Todd and Marisa, Dr. Michael Cerveris trained at the Juilliard School of Music and was previously a faculty member at ASU. Son Michael is a two-time TONY Award-winner, has achieved legend status on Broadway and as a guitarist. He has starred in shows such as Sweeney Todd, LoveMusik, Assassins, Evita, and most recently, Fun Home. Todd received his bachelor’s degree from Yale and obtained an MFA in acting from the University of California, San Diego. His career has been in regional theater and national tours, including performances at Gammage in Twelve Angry Men, Spring Awakening and War Horse. At age 17, Marisa received a full scholarship to The School of American Ballet and was a member of the acclaimed New York City Ballet and a dancer on Broadway before moving into fashion design.
Mary and Bill Way were honored with the 2016 Jerry Award. The Valley philanthropists are members of the ASU Gammage 50th Anniversary Leadership Board, with Mary serving as co-chair. Mary has a board position with Southwest Shakespeare Company, and Bill serves as a trustee of Whitman College, Phoenix Art Museum, the Nature Conservancy, the National Advisory Council for Marriott School of Business and the School of Life project. The Jerry Award is named for the late Jerry Appell, who was one of ASU Gammage’s most ardent supporters and posthumously received the award last year.
The Gammy and Jerry Awards Dinner is part of the ASU Gammage Golden Gammage Initiative, a $16.2 million capital campaign to sustain the landmark performing arts center for future generations. The initiative includes a capital-improvements fund to ensure ASU Gammage meets the needs of today’s patrons, including plans for restroom expansion, accessibility improvements and a revamped sound system. It also includes a programming endowment.
PHOTOS BY TIM TRUMBLE/ASU GAMMAGE
