Lansbury, who currently stars in the first Broadway revival of A Little Night Music, will receive the honorary Degree of Doctoral Arts during the Manhattan School of Music's 84th commencement ceremony at The Riverside Church. Alan M. Ades and Anton Coppola (who will give the commencement address) will also be presented with honorary degrees. In addition, Manhattan School of Music will bestow Presidential Medals for Distinguished Faculty Service to conservatory faculty members Arkady Aronov and Orin O'Brien.

A five-time Tony Award winner, Lansbury was recently nominated for her performance as Madame Armfeldt in Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's A Little Night Music opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones. Her recent Broadway appearances include Blithe Spirit (Tony Award) and Deuce. Lansbury's illustrious career spans 50 years, including Tony Awards for her performances in Sweeney Todd, Dear World, Gypsy and Mame. In 1944 Lansbury made her film debut in "Gaslight," which earned her an Academy Award nomination. She's well known to television audiences as Jessica Fletcher in the series "Murder, She Wrote."