This year, Pittsburgh's Civic Light Opera (CLO) will celebrate it's Golden Anniversary and it's sixth Richard Rodgers Award ceremony with a star studded gala taking place at the Benedum Center on September 28. Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber will be there to accept the Richard Rogers Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre.

The evening will consist of dinner, and a performance that will include works by award-winning composer Webber, as well as past Rogers Award recipients Mary Martin, Julie Andrews, Harold Prince, Sir Cameron Mackintosh and Stephen Sondheim.

The performance will be co-hosted by Pittsburgh native Shirley Jones, and film, Broadway and TV veteran Stacy Keach. Some of the other performers include current Broadway "Phantom" Davis Gaines, Tony Award-winner Leslie Uggams and Pocahontas' Judy Kuhn.

Webber will reportedly accept the award from Mary Rodgers, Richard Rogers daughter.

The event begins at 5:30 pm, with two 50th Anniversary pre-gala options for the public. The Gala Dinner is for people who are Realize the Dream Campaign Donors, to benefit CLO. People interested in becoming a donor may call James Mercer at (412) 281-3973. The Behind the Scenes Dinner is open to everyone. The Gala Dinner sponsors a special reception for Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and dinner at the Duquesne Club in Downtown Pittsburgh. Guests receive special seating for the performance, and after, desert, champagne and dancing on the Benedum stage with performers and other guests. Tickets are $500.

The Behind the Scenes Dinner consists of a buffet at the CNG Plaza. After the performance, guests return to the plaza for desert and dancing . Tickets are $150, and can be purchased by calling (412) 762-5939.

Tickets can be purchased for the performance only, ranging from $35-100, on sale September 9. For tickets call (412) 456-6666.

--By Blair Glaser