Performers Announced for the American Theatre Wing Gala

FEATURING THE WORK OF JONATHAN LARSON GRANT RECIPIENTS BENJ PASEK & JUSTIN PAUL, JOE ICONIS, KIRSTEN CHILDS, MICHAEL R. JACKSON, AND SHAINA TAUB

 BRANDON VICTOR DIXON, NIKKI M. JAMES, ANDY MIENTUS, KRYSTA RODRIGUEZ, JASON TAM, LAUREN MARCUS, DAPHNE RUBIN-VEGA AND MORE SET TO PERFORM.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2019 at CIPRIANI 42^ND STREET

The American Theatre Wing (Heather Hitchens, President & CEO) is thrilled to announce performers for their annual Gala, celebrating the legacy of Jonathan Larson and the Larson family, dubbed “Say YES to Artists Gala.” The evening’s entertainment will feature the work of composers and lyricists who have been the recipients of the Jonathan Larson^® Grants, including Obie Award® winner Kirsten Childs, Tony Award^®nominee Joe Iconis, Michael R. Jackson, Academy Award^®, Grammy Award^®, Golden Globe Award^®, and Tony Award winners Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, Shaina Taub, and, of course, Pulitzer Prize and three-time Tony Award winner Jonathan Larson. Many of the artists will be making appearances to speak about their role in the Larson Legacy.

Performers for the evening include Tony Award winner Brandon Victor Dixon; Tony Award winner Nikki M. James; the cast of The Jonathan Larson Project, including, Nick Blaemire, Lauren Marcus, Andy Mientus, Krysta Rodriguez, and Grammy Award nominee Jason Tam; the cast of Love In Hate Nation, including, Sydney Farley, Amina Faye, Jasmine Forsberg, Lauren Marcus, Kelly McIntyre, Lena Skeele, Emerson Mae Smith, and Tatiana Wechsler; as well as two-time Tony Award nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega, Fredi Walker, and other members of the original RENT cast.

The gala will be produced by Lauren Class Schneider and Class Productions. Jennifer Ashley Tepper will serve as producer/director of the concert portion of the evening with music direction by Natalie Tenenbaum. The musicians will feature Julia Adamy, Rosa Avila, Cody Owen Stine, and Megan Talay.

As previously announced, the Gala will be held on Monday, September 16, 2019 at Cipriani 42^ndStreet (110 East 42^ndStreet). In celebration of the musical theater creatives who have been impacted by his legacy, the evening will feature one-of-a-kind performances by some of the most vibrant and exciting artists of our time.

Honorary Co-Chairs include Michael Greif, Patti LuPone, the Miranda family, James L. Nederlander, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Jordan Roth, Nick Scandalios, Philip Smith, Jennifer Ashley Tepper, Brisa Trinchero, Sergio Trujillo, Aaron Tveit, and Robert Wankel. Pamela Barbey, CeCe Black, Meg Fofonoff, Lawrence Otis Graham and Pamela Thomas-Graham, Anki Leeds, Evan Shapiro, and Nadine Wong will serve as Gala Chairs.

Jonathan Larson’s dream was to infuse musical theatre with a contemporary, joyful, urban vitality, but like every creative artist just starting out, he faced a litany of rejections. For years, Julie, Nan, and Al Larson watched their brother and son struggle with constantly being told “No” as he tried to make it as a composer-lyricist in New York City. His dream finally seemed to be coming true when RENT was produced on Broadway, but tragically, he didn’t live to see it happen as he passed away the night before the show’s first preview. Upon his death, the Larson family felt the best way to honor his legacy was to say “YES” to young musical theatre writers providing both money and encouragement at a critical moment in their careers.

The family came to the American Theatre Wing in 2009 and in the last 22 years, The Jonathan Larson^® Grants have said “YES” to more than 135 artists and invested over $730,000 in the future voices of the theatre. Those artists have gone on to garner 20 Tony nominations, 3 Tony Awards, 6 Obie Awards, 2 Golden Globes, 2 Grammys, and 1 Academy Award.

The funds raised at the Gala will provide vital support for the Wing’s programs, which champion theatrical excellence at every stage and ensure that American Theatre has a dynamic and diverse future. The goal for this year’s gala is to provide the Jonathan Larson^®Grants with a fresh infusion of funds to match what his family invested over two decades ago.

Past honorees have included Andrew Lloyd Webber, James Earl Jones, Dame Angela Lansbury, Harold Prince, the Redgrave Family, Sir Howard Stringer, Frank Loesser, Jerry Herman, Carol Channing, Tommy Tune,Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Isabelle Stevenson, Jerry Bock, Cy Coleman, John Kander, Fred Ebb, Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Marvin Hamlisch, Sheldon Harnick, Stephen Sondheim, Charles Strouse, Graciela Daniele, Kathleen Marshall, Susan Stroman, Julie Taymor, and many more.

The evening includes cocktails, dinner, and performances. For tickets and more information, please contact Laura Talbot by calling 212.765.0606 or emailing gala@americantheatrewing.org.