Joseph Stein Honored with Oscar Hammerstein Award 11/12

The York Theatre Company will honor playwright Joseph Stein with the 2007 Oscar Hammerstein Award on Monday, November 12 at Saint Peter's Church.  The award culminates York's yearlong celebration of Stein with the Fall 2006 and Fall 2007 Musicals in Mufti Series – the York's acclaimed series of musical theatre gems in staged concert performances.

The Oscar Hammerstein Award is named in honor of the legendary lyricist who helped shape American musical theatre through his collaborations with a number of different composers and writers.  The Oscar Hammerstein Award gala is the major fundraising event of The York Theatre Company.  Past recipients include Stephen Sondheim, Betty Comden & Adolph Green, Harold Prince, Cy Coleman, Charles Strouse, Arthur Laurents, Jerry Herman, Stephen Schwartz, Peter Stone, David Merrick, John Kander & Fred Ebb, Terrence McNally, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Carol Channing and Tony Walton.

Directed by Stuart Ross, the concert celebration of Stein's career will be presented at Saint Peter's Church, which is upstairs from the York Theatre space on 54th Street, just east of Lexington.  Prior to the 8:15PM curtain will be a dinner at Brasserie (100 E. 53rd Street between Park & Lex), with single tickets or whole tables available for purchase.  Cocktails start at 6PM; the dinner begins at 6:30PM.  The evening will be conclude with a champagne dessert reception and cast party for all attendees.  For tickets and complete details, www.yorktheatre.org or call 212-935-5820.

Photo of Joseph Stein (2006) by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd