Tony Bennett and the Stage Door Canteen volunteers at the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images
Our Centennial Gala, held Monday at Cipriani 42nd Street, was our most successful in our history, raising over $1.2 million with an online Charitybuzz auction and a once-in-a-lifetime Prizeo sweepstakes package featuring Neil Patrick Harris continuing through the end of September.
The evening was filmed by theatre streaming service, BroadwayHD, and will be available beginning early 2018. Additionally, it was announced that Patrick Pacheco has edited and compiled a book documenting the history of the American Theatre Wing. Featuring interviews from 100 theatrical notables, the book will also be released in early 2018.
The sold-out, black-tie event was held at Cipriani 42nd Street and celebrated the power of musical theater in American life over the past 100 years. The evening’s program included a special guest appearance by American Theatre Wing school alum Tony Bennett, and featured 10 songs from 10 musicals that moved the needle for American musical theater, including: Rebecca Luker and Howard McGillin performing “Make Believe” from Show Boat, Natalie Cortez performing “America” from West Side Story, Santino Fontana performing “Try to Remember/Soon It’s Gonna Rain” from The Fantasticks, Laura Osnes performing “A Wonderful Guy” from South Pacific, Brian Stokes Mitchell performing “Being Alive” from Company, Taylor Trensch and a chorus of SpringboardNYC participants performing “La Vie Boheme” from Rent, Norm Lewis performing “The Music of the Night” from The Phantom of the Opera, Beth Malone performing “Telephone Wire” from Fun Home, Heather Headley performing “What I Did For Love” from A Chorus Line, and Evie Dolan joined by the rest of the cast performing “Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In” from Hair.
Julie Taymor attends the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for American Theatre Wing)Brian Stokes Mitchell, Heather Hitchens Lea DeLaria, Allyson Tucker at the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. Photo Credit: Stephanie Berger.Emilio Sosa and William Ivey Long attend the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for American Theatre Wing)Lea DeLaria attends the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for American Theatre Wing)Brent Tworetzky and Randi Zuckerberg attend the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for American Theatre Wing)Brandon Victor Dixon attends the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for American Theatre Wing)Derek McLane attends the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for American Theatre Wing)Susan Crow and Tony Bennett attend the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for American Theatre Wing)Lucy Liu attends the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for American Theatre Wing)Liz Claman attends the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for American Theatre Wing)Pamela and Peter Barbey (Village Voice) attend the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for American Theatre Wing)Janelle McDermoth attends the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for American Theatre Wing)Brad Walsh and Christian Siriano attend the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for American Theatre Wing)Adam Kantor attends the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for American Theatre Wing)Samuel L Jackson, LaTayna Richardson Jackson, Emilio Sosa at the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. Photo Credit: Annie WattsIngrid Rossellini, Pia Lindström, Isabella Rossellini attend the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for American Theatre Wing)Lia Vollack attends the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for American Theatre Wing)Sergio Trujillo and Jack Noseworthy attend the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for American Theatre Wing)Bobby Cannavale attends the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for American Theatre Wing)The cast of The Lion King – Musical attends the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for American Theatre Wing)Lea DeLaria, William Ivey Long, Heather Hitchens at the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. Photo Credit: Stephanie Berger.Wing Chair David Henry Hwang kicks off the entertainment at the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesNorm Lewis performing “The Music of the Night” from The Phantom of the Opera at the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesNatalie Cortez performing “America” from West Side Story at the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesTaylor Trensch and a chorus of SpringboardNYC participants performing “La Vie Boheme” from Rent at the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesTaylor Trensch and a chorus of SpringboardNYC participants performing “La Vie Boheme” from Rent at the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesBeth Malone performing “Telephone Wire” from Fun Home at the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesLaura Osnes performing “A Wonderful Guy” from South Pacific at the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesHeather Headley performing “What I Did For Love” from A Chorus Line at the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesRebecca Luker and Howard McGillin performing “Make Believe” from Show Boat at the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesSantino Fontana performing “Try to Remember/Soon It’s Gonna Rain” from The Fantasticks at the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesBrian Stokes Mitchell performing “Being Alive” from Company at the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images.Evie Dolan joined by the rest of the cast performing “Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In” from Hair at the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesEvie Dolan joined by the rest of the cast performing “Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In” from Hair at the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesEvie Dolan joined by the rest of the cast performing “Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In” from Hair at the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty ImagesSurprise guest and Professional Training School alum Tony Bennett talks at the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images.The gala chairs and performers of the American Theatre Wing Centennial Gala. Photo Credit: Stephanie Berger.
“What an extraordinary evening for the Wing! The outpouring of love and support in honor of our Centennial was incredibly moving, and a powerful reminder of the critical role that live theatre plays in bringing us together and moving us forward as a nation.” said Heather Hitchens, President of the American Theatre Wing. “The fact that it was also the most successful in our history from a fundraising perspective is an amazing bonus, and we will put that money to good use supporting emerging theatre artists and companies across the country.”
