Off Broadway Theatre Company Primary Stages Honoring Mickey Rolfe and Thom Sesma

The Off Broadway theatre company Primary Stages is honoring Mickey Rolfe and Thom Sesma at its fall gala, October 20.

Created in memory of Primary Stages' late artistic director Andrew Leynse, the Andrew Leynse Commitment to New Plays Award is given each year to a member of the Primary Stages community who has been a dedicated champion of new plays and new playwrights. Rolfe, this year's winner, is the founding patron of Primary Stages' Liff Lab, a new play development program named for his mentor, legendary theatre agent, Samuel "Biff" Liff, that provides an exceptional early- to mid-career with a 29-hour developmental workshop of an unproduced new work. A long-time advocate for the theatre, Rolfe dedicated most of his 40-year career to representing Broadway's top designers, with Rolfe Company clients winning a total of 22 Tony Awards.

The Einhorn Mentorship Award is awarded each year to someone in the Primary Stages community who has been a true mentor and inspiration to those who work with them.

"This year, Primary Stages is proud to celebrate two extraordinary individuals who have made a lasting impact on the American theatre: Thom Sesma, recipient of the Einhorn Mentorship Award, and Mickey Rolfe, recipient of the Andrew Leynse Commitment to New Plays Award," says Erin Daley, Primary Stages artistic director.

Sesma most recently appeared in Broadway's Dead Outlaw, for which he won the 2024 Outer Critics Circle Award for Featured Performer in a Musical. He made his Primary Stages debut in 2018 as Leo Tolstoy in Scott Carter's The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens, and Leo Tolstoy: Discord, and joined the Primary Stages Einhorn School of Performing Arts (ESPA) acting faculty in 2019. During the COVID-19 lockdown, he developed a special online curriculum for ESPA actors to help them continue to work and create despite the social distance and continues to serve as a coach and mentor for young actors to this day. Primary Stages is thrilled to be honoring him with the Einhorn Mentorship Award.

"Mickey has gone far beyond his work as a theatrical agent, where he has guided and championed the careers of countless designers. His vision and generosity helped found the Liff Lab at Primary Stages, a program that ensures new plays continue to be developed and shared at a time when it is increasingly difficult for these voices to be heard. His commitment has opened doors for artists and strengthened the future of new work in the American theatre.

The gala directed by Michael Heitzman, with music direction by Will Van Dyke. The evening will include cocktails, dinner, musical performances, and a comedy set with Judy Gold. Performers will include Andrew Durand, Julia Knitel, Zachary Noah, A.J. Shively, David Van Tieghem "), and more to be announced. The program is subject to change.