The award, established in 2009 in honor of "America's most influential contemporary musical theatre writer," was presented at a black-tie benefit at the Embassy of Italy in Washington, DC. Here is a clip of LuPone's acceptance speech as well as a highlight of her performance at the gala.

Composer-lyricist Sondheim said in a statement, "There are few performers who can play both Mrs. Lovett and Fosca, Evita and Reno Sweeney, Nancy in Oliver! and Cora Hoover Hooper in Anyone Can Whistle, and still create roles for David Mamet. In fact, there's only one. Versatility of such a high caliber is rare indeed, and therefore it couldn’t be more appropriate that the recipient of this year's Signature Theatre Sondheim Award is going to the best tuba player on Broadway: Patti LuPone."

LuPone, most recently seen on Broadway in An Evening With Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin, is a two-time Tony Award winner for her performances in Evita and Gypsy. She was nominated for her performances in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Sweeney Todd, Anything Goes and The Robber Bridegroom. For more on LuPone's theatrical history, visit the Playbill Vault.

For more information about Signature Theatre, visit SignatureTheatre.org.

To watch LuPone's speech and performance at the Signature gala, look below: