Harvey Fierstein to Emcee SDC Gala Honoring Jerry Mitchell, 5/13

Acclaimed Director/Choreographer Jerry Mitchell will be honored with the 2013 "Mr. Abbott" Award for his outstanding artistry and creativity and breadth of his thirty-year career. The award will be presented at a gala event at B.B. King on Monday, May 13, 2013, from 7 - 10pm, with four-time Tony Award-winning playwright and actor Harvey Fierstein, a frequent collaborator of Jerry Mitchell, to emcee.

The event will be chaired by producers Hal Luftig, Kristin Caskey, and Mike Isaacson, each of whom has worked closely with Jerry Mitchell over the course of illustrious producing careers. Hal Luftig has been a member of the producing team on Mitchell projects including Kinky Boots, Hairspray and Catch Me If You Can. He notes, "I've enjoyed a fruitful creative relationship as well as a personal friendship with Jerry over the years. His imagination and artistry has enriched theatre in New York and across the country. I am honored to be a part of this event recognizing Jerry's great contribution to theatre. And since it's Jerry we're fêting, we guarantee we'll have fun."

Kristin Caskey and Mike Isaacson, producers of Fox Theatricals, led the producing team of Legally Blonde and were members of the producing team on You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

Marcia Milgrom Dodge and John Rando, Board Members of SDC and SDCF, will be chairing on behalf of the SDCF Board. "Jerry Mitchell has been a force in the New York theatre community since his days as a dancer, a leader in both philanthropy and craft. He's a remarkably versatile director and choreographer who has truly added to the success and pleasure of theatre of the last 20 years and will continue to for many years to come. We're thrilled to acknowledge him with the "Mr. Abbott" Award for his body of work and look forward to a celebratory evening," says Ms. Dodge.

Marc Bruni and Denis Jones will co-direct the evening's tribute with participating talent to be announced in the next few weeks.
The "Mr. Abbott" Award, bestowed 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 to a director or choreographer in recognition of lifetime achievement. Past recipients of the award include Hal Prince, Bob Fosse, Mike Nichols, Agnes DeMille, Michael Bennett, Trevor Nunn, Susan Stroman, Graciela Daniele, and the 2011 recipient, George C. Wolfe.

Festivities for the evening will begin with cocktails and light dinner followed by tribute performance and dessert. Tickets priced from $250 are limited and open to the public. For more information on the evening, please visit www.sdcweb.org/foundation/the-mr-abbott-award/ or call 212.391.1070 x244.