Arizona Theatre Company’s 2023 Gala

Susan and Jeffrey Rein

Susan and Jeff met during the course of their studies at the University of Arizona–College of Pharmacy. After graduation, Susan practiced Pharmacy for many years but Jeff, with his Accounting and Pharmacy degrees, decided to go into management and ended his career at Walgreens as Chairman and CEO

Their first date–December, 1978–was to a performance of “A Christmas Carol” at Arizona Theatre Company (was Arizona Civic Theatre at that time). Susan was so impressed with the show (it got their relationship off to a fabulous start)—entertaining, great acting, excellent costumes, set design and music/lighting—that she accepted his proposal for marriage. They have now been married over 42 years.

“We have supported ATC for many years. Not only are the shows entertaining, but they are thought-provoking and help us understand cultures and perspectives different from our own. Sometimes, the productions make you glad to be alive or they make you sad. The wide range of emotions they elicit are a testament to the power of theater, especially when it is presented in such as professional way as ATC does on a consistent basis.

As long-time residents of Tucson and enthusiastic supporters of all forms of art, we are gratified to be part of an organization that serves Arizona so well. We are honored to receive the 2023 Georgy Award.”

Jack O’Brien

Jack O’Brien, recently Tony nominated for his direction of the new hit musical, Shucked, has also won three Tony Awards for his direction of Hairspray, Henry IV, and The Coast of Utopia. His other recent Broadway credits include Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, Carousel, The Front Page, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, It’s Only a Play, Macbeth, The Nance, Dead Accounts, Catch Me If You Can, Impressionism, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Tony nom.), Imaginary Friends, The Invention of Love (Tony nomination and Drama Desk winner), The Full Monty (Tony nom.), More to Love, Getting Away with Murder, The Little Foxes, Damn Yankees, Two Shakespearean Actors (Tony nom.) and Porgy and Bess (Tony nom.).

Off- Broadway credits include Tom Stoppard’s The Hard Problem, Pride’s Crossing, and Hapgood (Lucille Lortel Award). Other productions include Il Trittico at the Metropolitan Opera, Guys and Dolls at Carnegie Hall, Much Ado About Nothing for The Public’s Shakespeare in the Park, Love Never Dies and Hairspray (Olivier nom.) in London, which also saw another revival at the Coliseum in London. Mr. O’Brien was the Artistic Director of the Old Globe Theatre from 1981 till 2007.

He has directed six programs for PBS’s American Playhouse. He is the author of two memoirs, Jack Be Nimble, and Jack in the Box, or How to Goddam Direct, both published by FSG. He lives in Connecticut with an exceptional Norwich terrier named Coda.