Benefits and GalasAlex Newell, L Morgan Lee, Telly Leung, More Celebrate Stephen Schwartz in Philadelphia Concert November 13
The inaugural Mazzoni Center Honors event is held at the Kimmel Center.
By
Andrew Gans
November 13, 2023
Alex Newell, L Morgan Lee, Telly Leung, and Stephen Schwartz
A host of stage and screen stars come together November 13 at
Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center to celebrate the work of Oscar-winning
composer Stephen Schwartz.
Billed as the inaugural Mazzoni Center Honors event, proceeds benefit the Mazzoni Center, the comprehensive health and wellness center
serving Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ community. Emmy and Peabody Award-winning broadcast journalist Soledad O’Brien hosts.
Schwartz will be presented with a special award in recognition of his musical and humanitarian impact.
Performer Leung said in an earlier statement, “I've known Stephen since I was a college
student…and he has always been a 'gift' to me. I'm thrilled I get to
celebrate his music with this incredible line-up of artists whilst
raising money and awareness for the great work being done at Mazzoni
Center for the LGBTQ+ community.”
A recipient of the 2015 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award, Schwartz also received Tony nominations for Best Original Score for Wicked, Rags, Working, Godspell, and Pippin as well as a Best Book of a Musical nomination for Working. He is also a three-time Oscar winner for his work on Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt.
The event is produced by Richard Barone with musical director Nick Wilders. The main concert in the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall will be preceded by a drag show, also featuring Schwartz classics, with performances by local Philadelphia drag queens Brittany Lynn, Phoebe Manntrappe, and Nurse Morgan, in the Kimmel Center lobby.
