Westport Library Honors Westport's Own Shonda Rhimes At Their Annual BOOKED For Evening Event
Vanity Fair editor-in-chief Radhika Jones interviews Shonda Rhimes at The Westport Library’s BOOKED For The Evening.
Shonda Rhimes is an award-winning television creator, producer and author. She is also the CEO of Shondaland, the global media company that encompasses brand partnerships, merchandise, theatrical and streaming content and a digital division.
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As inductee into the Television Academy Hall Of Fame, she has produced some of the most successful television in recent history, with three series which she created achieving the 100 episode milestone. These include Grey's Anatomy, history's longest running medical drama, spin-off Private Practice and the Netflix blockbuster series Bridgerton. She is a television writer, producer, author of multiple books recipient of numerous awards for her work in both entertainment and other achievements. Shonda is now a Westport resident and last night, as honoree was instrumental in setting a record for the highest total raised in more than 20 years of the Westport Library's biggest annual fundraiser, BOOKED For The Evening, which drew 430 guests in person and was streamed online. She now has joined a very exclusive club which includes Alan Alda, Itzak Perlman, John Meacham, Martin Scorcese, Tom Brokaw, Doris Kearns Goodwin and Westport's famous former residents, Justin Paul and Nile Rogers.
The evening began after a cocktail hour with a 15 minute film about Shonda Rhimes created by Westport filmmaker Douglas Tirola and the Booked Committee, chaired by Wendy Brown and Candy Savin which introduced Shonda to the audience. The film was an overview of her life and career and included messages of congratulations from Kerry Washington, Mindy Kale and the president of Dartmouth and which was complimented upon by Ms. Rhimes.
Next, editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair, Radhika Jones took the stage and introduced Ms. Rhimes and began a highly informative 45 minute interview which detailed her long career and anecdotes about her personal life drew rapt attention from the audience.
Harold Bailey, Jr . and wife Bernicestine take a quick photo with Shonda Rhimes at last night’s “BOOKED for the Evening” event at the Westport Library. Mr. Bailey is Chair of Team Westport, Chair of the Westport Civilian Review Panel and Trustee of Westport Country Playhouse. Mrs. Bailey is Board Chair of the Freeman Center (Bridgeport), Secretary of TEAM Westport and pas President of Fairfield County Links, Inc.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.