The evening — which honors producers Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley as well as the 25th anniversary of The Drama League Directors Project — boasts the talents of Chita Rivera, Donna Murphy, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Keith Carradine, Kate Mulgrew, Julie White, Cady Huffman, James Barbour, Kerry Butler, Bailey Hanks, Jackie Hoffman, Julie Halston, Skylar Astin, Lauren Pritchard and Lee Roy Reams as well as the original "Cagelles" from the 1983 Broadway production of La Cage aux Folles and the original Broadway cast of The Will Rogers Follies. (Cheyenne Jackson, who had been scheduled to be part of the event, is unable to perform due to a TV commitment.)
One of the evening's highlights promises to be a performance of Gypsy's "You Gotta Get a Gimmick" featuring Julie Halston as Electra (the role she played in the 2003 Gypsy revival), Cady Huffman as Mazeppa and Daphne Rubin-Vega as Tessie Tura.
Johanna McKeon and Roger Danforth direct A Musical Celebration of Broadway, which was penned by Stephen Cole and highlights the shows produced by Lane and Comley as well as past Broadway productions helmed by alumni of The Drama League Directors Project. Tony Award winner Huffman choreographs with musical direction by David Krane.
Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley's recent producing credits include Sunday in the Park with George, Legally Blonde, The 39 Steps, Cyrano De Bergerac, Jay Johnson: The Two & Only and the recent revival of American Buffalo. Lane also produced the Tony-winning Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Will Rogers Follies and La Cage aux Folles.
Founded by former Drama League President Julia Hansen, the Directors Project, according to press notes, is aimed at "identifying and helping young, talented directors to bridge the gap between academic training and professional success." The evening begins at 7 PM with a cocktail reception and silent auction/raffle followed by dinner at 8 PM and the performance.
Tickets, priced $900-$2,500, are available by calling Roger Calderon at (212) 244-9494, ext. 5. For more information visit www.dramaleague.org.
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Proceeds will benefit The Drama League, which was founded in 1916 as "an association of theatre professionals and patrons dedicated to encouraging the finest in professional theatre and has since then developed into the theatre's premiere service organization."
