Minnelli Joined By Esparza & More At Kennedy Center's 18th Annual Spring Gala 5/2

A cast of performing arts luminaries will join Gala Chair and Host Liza Minnelli at the 18th annual Kennedy Center Spring Gala, Sunday, May 2 at 8:30 pm in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. The evening will include performances and appearances by Tony Award® -winning actress Jane Alexander, members of the world-renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Tony Award®-winning actress Elizabeth Ashley, opera singer Harolyn Blackwell, Broadway star Raúl Esparza, opera singer Elmore James, Emmy Award-winning actress Judith Light, Andrea McArdle (the originator of the beloved title role in Annie), the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, and surprise guests. The evening will celebrate the centennial of the late Roger L. Stevens, founding chairman of the Kennedy Center, founding chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, and executive producer of more than 200 Broadway shows. The evening will feature performances from some of his legendary contributions to Broadway.

In 1961, Roger L. Stevens was asked by President Kennedy to help establish the National Cultural Center, which years later would be named in honor of the 35th president. As chairman of the Center's board of trustees from 1961 to 1988, Stevens not only led the Center's fundraising efforts but also guided its programming, which included the commissioning of many new works, including Leonard Bernstein's Mass for the building's opening in 1971. A theatrical producer for Broadway and the West End, he produced or co-produced more than 200 plays, including West Side Story, Bus Stop, A Man for All Seasons, Tea and Sympathy, Deathtrap, First Monday in October, and Mary, Mary, and brought to the stage such important writers as Eugene O'Neill, Tennessee Williams, Harold Pinter, T.S. Eliot, Tom Stoppard, Jean Giraudoux, Arthur Kopit, and Friedrich Durrenmatt. In addition to his work on behalf of the national cultural center, Stevens also served as President Lyndon B. Johnson's Special Assistant on the Arts (1964-1968), shepherding legislation which established the nation's first National Council on the Arts, later the National Endowment for the Arts, which he chaired from 1965 to 1969.

The Kennedy Center Spring Gala Premier Sponsor is The Boeing Company, whose contributions play a crucial leadership role in supporting the presentation of the Kennedy Center's artistic and educational programs throughout the year.

The black-tie evening begins with a reception on the River Terrace at 5 p.m. followed by an elegant dinner on the Roof Terrace level at 6 p.m. The Gala performance begins at 8:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall. The evening concludes with 'Til Midnight, a cocktails and dancing party, in the Roof Terrace Restaurant.

As one of Washington's premier benefit engagements, the annual Kennedy Center Spring Gala provides critical funding to support the Center's performances, education and outreach initiatives. From commissioning and presenting productions for students to sponsoring seminars and workshops for teachers and arts managers, the Kennedy Center provides numerous opportunities to enrich the appreciation of the performing arts in our local community and across the country-all while presenting world-class performances throughout the year.

To inquire about VIP packages and the gala events surrounding this performance, please e-mail springgala@kennedy-center.org or call (202) 416-8338 for additional information.

Concert-only tickets are $35-$125and can be purchased at the Kennedy Center Box Office or by calling Instant Charge at (202) 467-4600. Patrons living outside the Washington, D.C., metropolitan calling area may dial toll-free at (800) 444-1324 or visit kennedy-center.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.