Laura Benanti, Howard McGillin, Joseph Thalken and Natascia Diaz to Honor Patti LuPone at Signature Gala, 4/16

On April 16, 2012, Signature Theatre will honor the celebrated Tony Award-winning actress Patti LuPone with the company's third Stephen Sondheim Award. The award, established in 2009 in honor of America's most influential contemporary musical theater writer and composer, will be presented at a black-tie Gala Benefit at the Embassy of Italy.

The 2012 Sondheim Award Gala is chaired by Diamond Sponsor Adrienne Arsht; Platinum Sponsors for the event include The Boeing Company, Bonnie and Kenneth Feld, Victor Shargai and Craig Pascal, Mary Jo and Ted Shen, and Susan Schwab. The Sondheim Award Gala will benefit Signature Theatre's artistic, education, and community programs.

Stephen Sondheim stated, "There are few performers who can play both Mrs. Lovett and Fosca, Evita and Reno Sweeney, Nancy in Oliver! and Cora Hoover Hooper in Anyone Can Whistle, and still create roles for David Mamet. In fact, there's only one. Versatility of such a high caliber is rare indeed, and therefore it couldn't be more appropriate that the recipient of this year's Signature Theatre Sondheim Award is going to the best tuba player on Broadway: Patti LuPone."

To commemorate the evening and to help celebrate Ms. LuPone's extraordinary career, special musical performances will be given by Tony Award® winner Laura Benanti (Gypsy and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown with Ms. LuPone) and Tony Award® nominee Howard McGillin (Anything Goes with Ms. LuPone and Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George). DC favorite Natascia Diaz (Kiss of the Spider Woman at Signature and Helen Hayes award-winner for Rooms at MetroStage) and American Musical Voices Project commissioned composer Joseph Thalken (And the Curtain Rises at Signature) will also be on-hand to perform.

"I am thrilled that Patti LuPone will be receiving this year's Stephen Sondheim Award," said Signature Theatre's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer. "With her wonderful performances in Gypsy, Sweeney Todd, Company, Passion, and more - she has had an amazing connection to Steve's words and music. We look forward to saluting Patti and her extraordinary talents."

Receiving the Young Artist Citation this year will be Music Director Gabriel Mangiante who has worked on Signature's productions of Brother Russia, The Hollow, The Boy Detective Fails, Side by Side by Sondheim, among many others. Composer Peter Lerman was honored with the Young Artist Citation last year.