Chita Rivera and David Hyde Pierce Lead Broadway Holiday Tree Lighting on December 7

Two of Broadway's most illustrious stars, the legendary Chita Rivera (who begins previews at the Schoenfeld Theatre on November 23 in Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life) and the debonair David Hyde Pierce (currently starring in the smash musical, Monty Python's Spamalot, Broadway's Tony Award-winning "Best Musical"), will be joined by cast and company members from virtually every Broadway and Off Broadway show to celebrate and share in the joy of the holiday season when they flip the switch to light the 2005 BROADWAY HOLIDAY TREE.The ceremony will take place between shows on WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, at 5:00pm in Father Duffy Square (Broadway and 46th Street, down from the TKTS Ticket Booth). The event is free and open to the public.

Cast members from the hit musical, Altar Boyz (currently at Dodger Stages) will kick off the festivities by performing "What Christmas Is..." by Altar Boyz composer, Gary Adler. The ceremony will close with a performance by sixth grade students from THE PROFESSIONAL PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL.

During the ceremony, Theatre Development Fund and The League of American Theatres and Producers will continue their tradition of presenting a $5,000 gift to a not-for-profit organization in the theatre district. The organization to be the recipient of the gift will be announced shortly.

THE BROADWAY HOLIDAY TREE CEREMONY, which has become a theatre district tradition, celebrates the joy of the season and honors those we have lost in the past year. The Broadway stars who have flipped the switch to light the Broadway Holiday Tree in the past several years have included (in alphabetical order): Carol Channing, Stockard Channing, Roger Daltrey, Patty Duke, Sandy Duncan, Dame Edna Everage, George Hamilton, Valerie Harper, David Hasselhoff, Eartha Kitt, Nathan Lane, John Lithgow, Rue McLanahan, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Bebe Neuwirth, Tony Randall, Brooke Shields and Tommy Tune.

This year, the 25-foot Douglas Fir will be decorated with white lights, accented with multi-colored holiday lights in green, red and gold, and ornaments representing every show currently playing on and Off Broadway. THE BROADWAY HOLIDAY TREE is presented by Theatre Development Fund, The League of American Theatres and Producers and the Times Square Alliance.