Rivera Honored, Van Dyke To Host THE ACTORS FUND's 13th Annual Tony Awards Party

Join Jason Alexander, Dana Delany, Marg Helgenberger, Valarie Pettiford, Carol Lawrence, Dick Gautier, Mitzi Gaynor, Susan Watson and host Dick Van Dyke (along with his musical group The Vantastix) as the THE ACTORS FUND honors Chita Rivera at their 13th Annual Tony Awards® Party with the Julie Harris Award for Lifetime Achievement. The gala features the only live feed in Los Angeles of the Tony Awards as they happen in New York. Marc Cherry, creator/producer of "Desperate Housewives" and David Rambo, producer/writer is "CSI" will produce and write this event.

The event will be held at the Skirball Center (2701 North Sepulveda Blvd, LA, 90049) on Sunday, June 7th, 2009:

3:30pm -- Cocktails and Silent Auction begins
5:00pm to 8:00p.m. -- Dinner and live telecast
8:00pm -- Presentation to Chita Rivera

Universally regarded as an American national treasure, Chita Rivera is Broadway's most accomplished and versatile dancer/actress/singer. A recipient of the prestigious Kennedy Center honor, Chita has won two Tony Awards as Best Leading Actress in a Musical and has received six additional Tony Award nominations. In 1957, Broadway history was made when Chita's electric performance as Anita in the Broadway premiere of West Side Story brought her stardom, followed by the starring role in Bye Bye Birdie. Around the nation or on tour, Chita subsequently starred in Born Yesterday, The Rose Tattoo, Call Me Madam, Threepenny Opera, Sweet Charity, Can-Can, Kiss Me Kate, and Zorba. Chita also played Nicky in the film version of Sweet Charity with Shirley MacLaine. Chita's most recent screen appearance was a cameo in the film version of Chicago. She recently appeared on Broadway in the Tony Award winning revival of Nine (starring opposite Antonio Banderas), and Chita Rivera: the Dancer's Life, the story of her own life in the theater, for which she received a Tony nomination.

The evening's festivities for the Annual Tony Awards party will feature an open bar, dinner, silent auction featuring Broadway memorabilia and Collectibles and Travel packages. The gala also
features the only live feed in Los Angeles. Previous recipients have included Julie Harris, Gwen Verdon, Charles Durning, Rita Moreno, James Earl Jones, Tyne Daly, Lauren Bacall, Stockard Channing, Carol Channing, Liza Minnelli, Jerry Herman and Tommy Tune.

THE ACTORS FUND is a national human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment. The Fund - which provides programs and services for those on stage and on screen and everyone behind the scenes in theatre, film, TV, music, dance,
radio and opera - is a safety net, providing social services and emergency assistance, health services and health insurance information, employment and training programs and housing support for those who are in need, crisis or transition. Learn more about what The Actors Fund does in helping over 10,000 people every year at www.actorsfund.org.

TICKETS: Individuals $225 and Tables available at $2,750, $5,000,
$10,000 and $25,000, Limited tickets are available and can be purchased by calling The Actors Fund at 323.933.9266 ext. 54 or at www.actorsfund.org.

Photo Credit: Linda Lenzi

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