The annual gala, scheduled to begin at 6 PM, will feature musical direction by Beth Ertz. Performing songs from the Hamlisch songbook will be Lucie Arnaz (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Brian d'Arcy James (Shrek), Kevin Earley (A Tale of Two Cities), Lesley Gore (Smokey Joe's Café), Emma Hunton (Spring Awakening), Capathia Jenkins (Caroline, or Change), Karen Ziemba (Curtains) and composer Donald Pippin. Composer-lyricist Craig Carnelia, writer-lyricist Sheldon Harnick and Pippin will provide recollections of Hamlisch's work.
Hamlisch won the Tony Award in 1976 for Best Original Score of A Chorus Line and was nominated for his work on Sweet Smell of Success. His other Broadway credits include They're Playing Our Song, Seesaw and The Goodbye Girl, among others. He received Oscars for his work on "The Way We Were" and "The Sting."
The National Arts Club is located at 15 Gramercy Park South. For more information, visit www.encompassopera.org.