The Coolidge Corner Theatre

Our third annual Coolidge Award program exceeded everyone's already high expectations, in terms of visibility, star-power, community outreach, and membership appreciation. Through a charmed confluence of hard work, determination, networking, and good karma, the award events honoring the work of super-luminary and all round great human being , Meryl Streep, brought joy to everyone who participated.

Our month-long series of retrospective screenings featured THE DEER HUNTER, KRAMER VS. KRAMER, SOPHIE'S CHOICE, SILKWOOD, OUT OF AFRICA, THE HOURS, THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT'S WOMAN, MANHATTAN, and DEFENDING YOUR LIFE, providing ample opportunity to watch Meryl Streep embody those original and challenging qualities the Award celebrates.

In the weeks of run-up to the Award ceremony we also presented a series of seminars. Led by respected film academics and industry veterans, these presentations focused on varied aspects of Ms. Streep's career, including her choice of roles in filmed adaptations of established literary works, her range of comedic parts, and what she brought to her early roles that mapped the socio-political landscape of the 1970s.

Selected to win the Coolidge Award in the category of English Language Actress, Ms. Streep arrived in Boston by train on an unexpectedly snowy day in April, along with her illustrious colleagues, including the late, great, independent director, Robert Altman, actors Kevin Kline and John C. Reilly. The two day celebration presented a panel on the creative processes behind the film ADAPTATION, a special sneak preview of A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION, introduced by Mr. Altman, and a dazzling SRO Award ceremony. In what can only be described as sooo Coolidge, Meryl Streep and the other stars of the evening, including long time Coolidge favorite Chris Cooper, screenwriter Charlie Kaufman, author Susan Orlean, New York Times critic Janet Maslin, and musical performer Patty Larkin, arrived at the theater via the red carpet, not in gas-guzzling limos, but in a fleet of Toyota hybrid cars.

The ensuing Award Ceremony was a combination toast and roast, with a tone-setting welcome from Coolidge Executive Director Joe Zina, a brief recap of Coolidge Award history by founder Rikk Larsen, endearing testimonials from all the celebrity guests including A.R.T. icon Robert Brustein, musical performances by Larkin as well as BSO violinist Sheila Fiekowsky, and students from the Brookline Music School. The good vibe was modeled by the recipient herself, who not only picked up the Coolidge Award but the award presenter, Susan Orlean. In her acceptance speech, displaying her genuine warmth, humor, and total lack of narcissism, Ms. Streep stressed the importance of preserving theaters like the Coolidge, and referring to our current Capital Campaign, joked, "How about these seats, people? I'm certainly kicking in!" Our major building renovations began the following week. Needless to say, we can't wait to invite Meryl Streep back to the Coolidge to try out the most comfortable theater seats in town.