Playwright Marsha Norman accepting her award for Literary Arts.

New York City - This week Guild Hall celebrated the 25th Anniversary of their Academy of the Arts Lifetime Achievement Awards in the splendor and opulence that is Cipriani 42nd Street.

This year's honorees included consummate character actor Bob Balaban, prolific playwright Marsha Norman, photographer/painter Richard Prince and Alan and Susan Patricof for their philanthropic work in support of Guild Hall and the many other charitable causes they support. The "Today Show's" Angela La Greca served as the evening's Master of Ceremonies and she moved the event along with panache and humorous repartee.

Guild Hall's executive director Ruth Appelhof was thrilled with the turnout for this year's event, "The turnout has been amazing, the response has been amazing. I know in this day and age with the economy still shaky it takes a lot to get people to come out, but they all came tonight. We have over 200 people here tonight, all of our major donors, a lot of very generous people that we feel are all part of our family."

During the cocktail hour I caught up with Norman who considers the East End her home, "My kids went to the Ross School, I really live in East Hampton. I have been coming out there since I moved to New York in 1981. I keep moving farther and farther east and it is just great to have so many friends there and what a great life it is out there. I no longer think of it as a weekend place, I think of East Hampton as home and my loft in the city as my middle of the week place." Referencing Guild Hall she said, "As soon as you make that turn you are reminded, here's where you are, there's that pond and you see Guild Hall and you go back in time and are at home at the same time."

The Flying Karamazov Brothers juggling through Bob Balaban's acceptance speech. (Douglas Harrington)

Norman advised that "I have a new musical I am writing with Sheryl Crow, which is very exciting. It is a celebration of the great girl band era of the late 1990s. I also have a new play opening at the Guthrie called 'The Master Butchers Singing Club' which is an adaptation of Louise Erdrich's novel."

Artistic Director Josh Gladstone was in attendance with his beautiful wife, actress , "It is always exciting because there is such a great community of artists in the Hamptons, performing arts, visual arts, literary arts. To have this loose affiliation of these great artists with Guild Hall as the gathering place is just wonderful for us."

Executive Director Ruth Appelhof and Board President Mickey Straus.

Guild Hall supporter and board member Alec Baldwin who had hosted the Academy Awards the night before, was not in attendance, and Gladstone quipped "Right now he is probably napping. You heard, of course, that Alec will be starring this summer in 'Equus' at Guild Hall. It is a hell of way for us to kick off the summer."

Artist Richard Prince won for his lifetime achievement in fine arts.

David Nugent of the Hamptons International Film Festival partnered last year with Guild Hall for a summer film series called the Summer Docs Series. The series was hosted by Baldwin and its first film, "The Cove," won this year's Academy Award for best documentary. Nugent commented, "We were so excited by its win. It is a great film and a very important film. We are doing three more summer docs this year, maybe four, depending on scheduling. Alex is looking at a bunch of films, as am I, and we will soon discuss which films we will be featuring this year." Once again this year the festival will take place over the Columbus Day weekend, October 7 through October 11.

La Greca seemed to warm up her material on me before taking to the stage, "I have hosted this event several times in the past, but this is the best lighting I have ever seen. I am going to come back every year, it is better than a face lift, not that I ever had one, but I am going to say that tonight." The "Today Show" producer mentioned she had a special, surprise announcement for the attendees, as she had put together an evening with Joy Behar and Meredith Vieira in support of Guild Hall that she will be moderating this summer, "A conversation with those two bitches, how great will that be?"

Alan and Susan Patricof accepting their award for philanthropy. (Douglas Harrington)

During the ceremony La Greca presented the awards to Norman and Prince and an unexpected film tribute to the Patricofs by former President Bill Clinton was screened prior to their acceptance of the award for philanthropy. However, the surprises did not end there, as Balaban had an entertaining variation on his acceptance speech prior to the Patricof's award.

After Balaban referenced Jerry Seinfeld as great at giving acceptance speeches and appraising the risk to reward of what the audience paid for their seats to see him at the podium Balaban said, "I wasn't sure you were getting your money's worth tonight so I tried to figure out how to make it a little more entertaining. I don't know about you guys, but nothing says entertainment to me as much as a juggler." At which point the Flying Karamazov Brothers ran onto the stage and started juggling around him while Balaban proceeded to give his acceptance speech. At one point they interrupted the actor to take his award and juggle it along with bowling pins, hammers, rubber chickens and other outrageous items.

Among the other East End notables in attendance were Henry Schleiff, who presented the award to Balaban, Leila and Mickey Straus, Marjorie and Sheldon Harnick, Frieda and Roy Furman, Stuart Match Suna, Renee and Richard Steinberg, Peter Brandt, Ellen and Chuck Scarborough, Larry Gasgosian, Robert A.M. Stern, Paul Gregory Speckand Dominica Scorcese, to name but a very few.

An extraordinary evening in celebration of an extraordinary place, Guild Hall is one of the artistic jewels of the paradise we call the Hamptons. A fact that was not lost on any of the supporters or honorees at this year's Academy of the Arts Lifetime Achievement Awards ceremony at Cipriani.

Guild Hall supporters Lindsay and Perry Pazer with Sheldon and Marjorie Harnick.