On May 17, 2010, The Theatre Museum held the long-awaited 2009-2010 Theatre Museum Awards Ceremony at The Players Club, emceed by the ever-charming John Bolton. David Lewis kicked off the star-studded evening of musical performances by underscoring the cocktail hour at one moment drawing in a happy crowd for a sing-a-long of Broadway tunes and silent auction which was presented by Judith Ripka.

The night's honorees included The Mint Theater for Theatre History Preservation, Samuel French, Inc. for Theatre Arts Education, and the illustrious Sherman Brothers—Richard and Robert—for Career Achievement.

Jonathan Bank, the Artistic Director of The Mint Theater, accepted the Theatre History Preservation Award on behalf of the Obie and Drama Desk award-winning company, presented by actor George Morfogen (OZ, HBO). Thanks to The Mint's consistently high-caliber productions of plays that would otherwise be lost to time, important texts that have been discarded or ignored are now being read, reclaimed, performed, and—perhaps most importantly—enjoyed again.

Leon Embry, the President and CEO of Samuel French, Inc., accepted the award for Theatre Arts Education. The award was presented by Tappan Wilder, the executor of Thornton Wilder's dramatic and literary estate. Samuel French, Inc. has published and represented thousands of playwrights, translators, lyricists and composers throughout the world—and today, in its 180thyear, it continues to be the premier publisher of stage plays and drama instruction books.

Richard Sherman—and Robert, in a lovely there-in-spirit letter—accepted the Career Achievement Award, presented by Thomas Schumacher, President and Producer of Disney Theatrical Productions. With 36 feature Disney film credits, the Sherman brothers and Disney have created a longstanding legacy together, collaborating to imagine and realize the songs for such Disney classics as The Jungle Book, The Parent Trap, The Aristocats, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and The Sword and The Stone. Their theatre credits include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and currently Mary Poppins. They are part of the trend that brought Disney to Broadway and helped to reinvigorate the world of 42nd Street.

The Awards Presentation included many memorable performances by a uniformly talented roster of veteran actors including the multiple-award-winning Jim Dale, Jessica Grové, Kevin Cahoon, Jennifer Evans, Greg Mills, Sarah Rice, Annika Boras, and Noah Racey. Mark York, the show's pianist and arranger, deftly carried us all back in time by playing an unforgettable arsenal from the Sherman Brothers' canon, ranging from Mary Poppins to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Over Here, and Busker Alley. Richard Sherman also took a brief turn at the piano, playing the theme from Disney's Winnie, The Pooh series, and the world's most translated and performed song, "It's a Small World (After All)."

Master of Ceremonies John Bolton; directed by Tony Walton; musical direction by Aaron Gandy. Remarks from Helen Marie Guditis (President), Stewart F. Lane (Chairman of the Board), and Bonnie Comley (Advisory Committee Member). Musical performances from Jim Dale, Annika Boras, Kevin Cahoon, Jennifer Evans, Jessica Grové, Greg Mills, Noah Racey, Sarah Rice, Joseph Bentley, Phoebe Costello, Noah Pelty, and Mark York on piano. At the Players Club, 16 Gramercy Park South; May 17, 2010.

Special thanks to Kemi Akinbo, Donald Cheng, Catherine Cusick, Brixton Doyle, Lisa Ferber, Glass Impressions, Kathy and Paul Guditis, David Lewis, Jack Moscou, Cindy Mulkern and Chris Koselek, Carla Michelle and Breandan O'Donnell, Wayne Sapper, Travis Stewart, and Jackie Wittman.