Akers will entertain guests as part of the 6 PM benefit evening, which honors Brooklyn College president Christoph M. Kimmich with the Cultural Leadership Award. All proceeds from the evening will fund arts education, dance, theatre and music programs at the Brooklyn Center. Karen Akers earned a Best Featured Actress in a Musical Tony Award nomination for starring in the original Broadway production of Nine, and later appeared in the original company of Grand Hotel. She has earned acclaim for her work as a cabaret artist, having appeared at Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, Wolf Trap and regular engagements at The Oak Room at The Algonquin Hotel. Her recordings include "If We Only Have Love," "Feels Like Home" "Live at Rainbow & Stars," "Unchained Melodies," "In a Very Unusual Way" and "Simply Styne."

Akers will perform at the Walt Whitman Theatre at Brooklyn College. For tickets, priced $275, phone (718) 951-4600 x 21. For further information visit BrooklynCenter.