Honorees

Inspiration Award Recipient

Mary Ann Cohen, a native of New Mexico, attended public schools in Los Angeles and earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of California at Los Angeles and a Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California Law School. She worked as a legal researcher for multiple lawyers in Los Angeles before she joined a small firm that eventually became Abbott & Cohen, where she worked for 15 years. She has continued to work in the legal profession and has been a presidential appointee and senior federal judge, participating in landmark decisions. She received the Dana Latham Memorial Award from Los Angeles County Bar Association Taxation Section, the Jules Ritholz Memorial Merit Award from ABA Tax Section Committee on Civil and Criminal Tax Penalties, and Joanne M. Garvey Award from California Bar Taxation Section. Mary Ann was introduced to Rubicon through founding board members Dottie and Bernie Novatt. She made her first cultural investment to Rubicon as sponsor of Stephanie Zimbalist as Katharine Hepburn in Tea at Five in honor of her mother (who bore a strong resemblance to Hepburn). She considered it a special gift she could give her mother late in life. Mary Ann appreciates the diversity of Rubicon productions and has continued to sponsor mainstage shows and education programs which entertain, encourage thought and discussion, and inspire. It was her pleasure to underwrite British director Katharine Farmer during the Nibroc Trilogy and South Pacific, Moon for the Misbegotten with Joseph Fuqua, Collected Stories with Susan Clark, Gem of the Ocean, Lonesome Traveler, Lifespan of a Fact, Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992, and Return to the Forbidden Planet (in honor of Claudia and Russ Stromberg). Mary Ann is title sponsor of Rubicon’s upcoming production of Two Trains Running and The Comedy of Errors, both of which have associated education outreach programs and are produced in partnership with The Acting Company of New York.

Innovation Award Recipient

Dr. Jeffrey S. Grove, D.O., FACOFP, is a distinguished leader in the field of family medicine and geriatrics and brings an extensive and prestigious background to Suncoast Family Medical Associates and Paxton Medical Management. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Florida Southern College and a Doctor of Osteopathy degree from Southeastern University of the Health Sciences. Jeffrey holds the esteemed title of Fellow and Distinguished Fellow from the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP), underlining his commitment to excellence in family medicine. His leadership roles are numerous and noteworthy, including serving as President of the ACOFP and holding significant positions within the American Osteopathic Association, contributing to the advancement of continuing medical education and quality assurance in healthcare. Beyond his clinical and organizational contributions, Jeffrey has been recognized with several awards for his advocacy, leadership, and service to the medical community, including the Physician of the Year and Distinguished Service Awards. His commitment to the medical field is matched by his passion for the theatre, and he believes in the healing power of the arts in community building and empathy. Jeffrey’s many Broadway producing credits include Some Like It Hot, Harmony, Lifespan of a Fact and Once on This Island for which he received a Tony Award. He is partner in WitzEnd productions and is lead producer on Dark of the Moon, which had a developmental premiere at Rubicon last year. Jeffrey has residences in Florida, New York, and Paxton, Illinois (his hometown), where he and his brother John have restored several buildings and contributed to downtown revitalization. They are in the planning stages for a new professional theatre.