Tony Nominee Andrew Rannells to Host SDCF's 'Mr. Abbott' Award Gala Honoring James Lapine

DC Foundation is pleased to announce that Andrew Rannells will host the "Mr. Abbott" Award Gala honoring James Lapine on Monday, October 19, 2015. The event will include special performances by Bernadette Peters, Christine Ebersole, Christian Borle, and Marin Mazzie with appearances by Stephen Sondheim, William Finn, and others. Directed by Leigh Silverman, the "Mr. Abbott" Award Gala will take place at Stage 48 (605 West 48th Street). The event will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The "Mr. Abbott" Award, presented through SDCF by a committee of directors and choreographers to one of their peers, is named in honor of renowned director George Abbott and is presented in recognition of lifetime achievement. Past recipients of the award include Harold Prince, Bob Fosse, Mike Nichols, Agnes de Mille, Michael Bennett, Gene Saks, Tommy Tune, Arvin Brown, Trevor Nunn, Jerry Zaks, Gordon Davidson, Lloyd Richards, Garson Kanin, Graciela Daniele, Susan Stroman, Jack O'Brien, Lynne Meadow, Kathleen Marshall, Rob Marshall, Daniel Sullivan, Donald Saddler, George C. Wolfe, and Jerry Mitchell.

"There is a great energy gathering around honoring James Lapine with the "Mr. Abbott" Award and that is a testament to who he is both as an artist and as a human being. James continues to influence a vast cross-section of artists, whether he has worked with them directly or simply been, through his profound body of work, a model for theatre making. SDC Foundation is proud to honor James for his enormous impact on the theatre. And I, for one, can't wait to be in the room on October 19th with all of the fantastic people who are coming to celebrate him," says SDCF Board President, Susan Schulman.

Joy Abbott, the widow of George Abbott, is delighted with this year's selection of James Lapine. "I'm a fan of James's work and see the huge mark he has made on Broadway. James is a theatre artist in the mold of Mr. Abbott, who had so many talents, directing and writing, among others. I know George would be pleased, as am I, that James is being honored with the 'Mr. Abbott' Award."

The "Mr. Abbott" Host Committee is Stephen Sondheim, Honorary Chair | Co-Chairs: Dan Knechtges, Jordan Roth, Leigh Silverman, David Stone, and Vanessa L. Williams | Mrs. George Abbott | Broadway Across America | Amy Irving | Jujamcyn Theaters | Joe Mantello | Stuart Oken | Harold Prince | Pryor Cashman | John Rando | Daryl Roth | The Shubert Organization | Susan Stroman | Barbara Whitman | Michael Wilson