Megan Hilty Set to Headline Alliance Theatre's A TONY EVENING on 5/10

Atlanta's nationally acclaimed Alliance Theatre will host its 6th annual A Tony Evening at the W Hotel - Midtown on May 10, 2014. The star-studded party of the year benefits the Alliance Theatre's programs for youth and families, connecting the arts to children both young and young at heart.

The 2014 A Tony Evening will honor Victoria and Howard Palefsky for their commitment to, and support of, the arts in Atlanta, and particularly the Alliance Theatre and Woodruff Arts Center. Mrs. Palefsky currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Alliance Theatre, and her many accomplishments include creating the first A Tony Evening and the Season Opening Gala events. She has served on the Board of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and has chaired the Atlanta Symphony Ball and the High Museum's annual Gala. Aside from his work as an entrepreneur, manager and investor, Mr. Palefsky serves on the boards of numerous public and private companies, providing guidance to other entrepreneurs and managers with regard to industry trends, strategy, and investment. He also serves on the Board of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and in 2013, assumed the role of Chair of the Finance Committee.

Megan Hilty recently starred alongside Sean Hayes in NBC's comedy "Sean Saves the World." Prior to that, she portrayed the seasoned triple-threat Ivy Lynn in NBC's musical drama "Smash" for two seasons. In March 2013, Hilty released her debut solo album, "It Happens All The Time," which included fresh interpretations of compositions by contemporary songwriters and producers.

Hilty will next be seen in Summertime Entertainment's animated film "Dorothy of Oz" with Kelsey Grammer, Hugh Dancy and Lea Michele, slated for release in May 2014. She can also be heard alongside Placido Domingo on the opera star's duet album. A native of Seattle, Hilty moved to New York City after graduating from the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University, and quickly made her Broadway debut as Glinda in "Wicked." She went on to perform the role in both the national tour and in Los Angeles. Megan's performance at this year's A Tony Evening will follow her live concert earlier that evening at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

Atlanta treasure, Francine Reed, will open the entertainment portion of the evening's festivities. Francine Reed has become one of Atlanta's most treasured jazz artists and continues to expand her fan base at venues around the country. Reed was an integral part of Lyle Lovett's band and show during the 80's and 90's. She has successfully released several solo albums and has recorded with greats including Willie Nelson, Delbert McClinton and Roy Orbison. Reed continues to dazzle audiences with her amazing vocals and vibrant personality.

Co-Chairing this year's event are Jada Loveless and Stephanie Blank. Loveless has spent much of her career working in high fashion, launching her accessories collection in 2006. The collection has been featured in Vogue, Town and Country, Harper's Bazaar and The Atlantan, where Loveless is a Contributing Fashion Editor. Loveless serves on the Board of Directors for the High Museum of Art, and chaired the 2009 opening Gala "Leonardo da Vinci: Hand of the Genius." She has also chaired UNICEF's "Designs of Hope," Senior Citizens Services' "A Meal to Remember," Atlanta Humane Society's "A Celebration of Dogs," and The National Black Arts Festival "Fine Art and Fashion" where she was an honoree in 2011. Blank is the founding chair of the governing board of GEEARS, the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students. GEEARS helps businesses, government leaders, providers and parents maximize the economic return on the state's investments in early care and learning. Blank also serves as a member of the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta System Board and on First Lady Deal's Children's Cabinet, and she is on the national board for Jumpstart, an early education program.

The Co-Chairs' goal for A Tony Evening is to provide Atlanta with a deeper understanding of what the Alliance Theatre provides to the community, and how arts in education at early stages of childhood lead to higher achievement and a lifetime of support and love of the arts.

Each year, the Alliance Theatre Acting Program and Education Department reaches close to 50,000 adults and students through performances, acting classes, drama camps, and in-school initiatives. The Alliance creates and produces plays for young audiences at every age level: from the Collision Project, where high school artists create and perform new work based on a classic text, to the ground breaking Theatre for the Very Young, creating interactive shows for infants and toddlers. An active participant in Georgia classrooms, the Alliance has developed programs using theatrical techniques to aid in student learning through storytelling and problem solving. The Alliance Theatre Institute for Educators and Teaching Artists equips teachers with theatrical techniques that link directly to school curriculum, align with the Georgia Performance Standards, and increase student learning. Theatre challenges audiences to think critically and care deeply about their communities and people around them from different walks of life.

Sponsors of the 2014 A Tony Evening are invited to a Patron Party hosted by Tony Conway in honor of Victoria and Howard Palefsky, on April 22, at 6:30pm.

Patron Sponsorships for A Tony Evening start at $1,500 and include tickets to the event and the Patron Party. Corporate sponsorships are also available. For more information, please contact Bryan Saxon by email at bryan.saxon@woodruffcenter.org or by phone 404.733.5186. Learn more about the event and the sponsorship levels at www.alliancetheatre.org/atonyevening.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos