Audra McDonald, Norm Lewis, Judy Blazer, Gerry McIntyre, Michael John LaChiusa and Graciela Daniele are among those who are scheduled to participate in the memorial, which will feature performances and readings.

The memorial, which is open to the public, will also announce that the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts (NFAA) has established the Lovette George Award NFAA ARTS Award in Theater. This award, established with the support of the late performer's family and friends, will be granted annually to a high school senior national finalist in the NFAA's annual Arts Recognition and Talent Search program.

The program honors the nation's most talented young artists in the performing, visual and literary arts. George was one of the program's national panelists for two years.

Lovette George was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her performance in the Off-Broadway hit The Musical of Musicals – The Musical!. Her many New York stage appearances included three productions at Lincoln Center Theater — Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel (in which she understudied the role of Carrie Pipperidge), William Finn's A New Brain and Michael John LaChuisa's Marie Christine. In addition to her many regional and theatre credits, she was seen in the films "Center Stage" and "Broadway Damage" and the television series "Hope & Faith," "Sex and the City" and "Another World."

For further information about the NFAA and the Lovette George NFAA ARTS Award in Theater contact www.NFAAARTSawards.org. *

George was 44 and lived in Yonkers. She was born in Manhattan and drew part of her inspiration to perform from her mother, Carol, who is concert singer, her sister Richelle said.

When she was a child, George was "a singer, dancer, actress, performer," her sister said. "We have the genes…"

Her two sisters did not go into show business, however.

George eventually earned a bachelor's degree in theatre from SUNY Binghamton and would step onto major stages in New York City.

She played Carrie ("when Audra wasn't," she wrote in her Playbill bio) in the acclaimed Lincoln Center production of Carousel and appeared in Broadway's Uptown...It's Hot with Maurice Hines.

Playing a variety of musical theatre styles, she was nominated for a 2004 Drama Desk Award for The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!) for the York Theatre Company and later in its commercial run at Dodger Stages. She is also heard on the cast album, spoofing the styles of Stephen Sondheim, Kander and Ebb, Jerry Herman, Rodgers and Hammerstein and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

She appeared as Pearl in a German production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express (and is on its cast album).

George's credits also include Off-Broadway's The Green Heart (Manhattan Theatre Club) and Eating Raoul and regional productions of Thunder Knocking at the Door (the Guthrie), The Hot Mikado (the Alliance) and The Most Happy Fella (St. Louis Rep/Cincinnati Playhouse).

George is survived by her parents, Carol and Richard George, and her two sisters, Richelle and Carina.