The gala marks the centennial of Loesser's birth, who was born June 29, 1910, in New York City. Also honored as part of the evening will be companies Loesser founded, including the theatrical licensing agency Music Theatre International and the music publishing house Frank Music Corp.

Marc Bruni will direct Heart and Soul: The Legacy of Frank Loesser, which will feature selections from the songwriter's career: Guys and Dolls, The Most Happy Fella and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Rob Berman will musical direct, with lighting by Ken Billington.

Performers for the event will be announced shortly.

Honorary chairs for the event are the songwriter's widow, Jo Sullivan Loesser (who also starred in Most Happy Fella); his children Susan Loesser, John Loesser and Emily Loesser Stephenson; and Stephen Sondheim.

Gala co-chairs include producers Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Jacquin Philip Fink, MTI CEO Freddie Gershon and ATW Board members Theodore S. Chapin and Douglas B. Leeds. Loesser's musicals also include Where's Charley? and Greenwillow. Among his American Songbook classics are "I Don’t Want to Walk Without You," "Heart and Soul," "Baby, It's Cold Outside," "On A Slow Boat to China," "The Lady’s In Love With You," "They’re Either Too Young or Too Old" and "Spring Will Be a Little Late this Year." Loesser's Guys and Dolls earned the 1951 Tony Award for Best Musical and How to Succeed… was awarded both the Best Musical Tony and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. A short-lived Broadway revival of Guys and Dolls played the Nederlander Theatre last season, and How to Succeed will return to Broadway in 2011 starring Daniel Radcliffe.

All proceeds from the gala benefit the education and outreach programs of the American Theatre Wing. For tickets visit AmericanTheatreWing.