Tunick, the first orchestrator to win a Tony Award, is one of only eleven people to have also received an Academy Award, an Emmy Award and a Grammy Award. 

Tunick has frequently collaborated with Sondheim, and some of his theatre credits include Follies, Pacific Overtures, Putting It Together and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. His film work includes "Blazing Saddles," "Young Frankenstein," "A Little Night Music," "Endless Love," "Reds" and "Sweeney Todd."

"It's so fitting that Jonathan Tunick be honored with the Sondheim Award," artistic director Eric Schaeffer said in a statement. "His collaboration on Sondheim's musicals over the years is legendary and groundbreaking. He is a passionate artist who loves every aspect of the musical theatre, and it will be an honor to celebrate his artistry this spring."

"What makes Jonathan Tunick unique as a theatre orchestrator is that he understands the theatre as well as he does the orchestra," Sondheim added. "Orchestrators don't get the recognition they deserve. The Signature Theatre Sondheim Award will, I hope, serve as a means of amending this oversight."

The Stephen Sondheim Award was established in 2009 in honor of the award-winning theatre writer and composer. Previous recipients include Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone and Hal Prince.

To date, Signature has presented 23 Stephen Sondheim productions — more than any other theatre in the United States. 

The April 2014 gala is sponsored by The Boeing Company.

For more information visit signature-theatre.org.