LuPone to Perform on Cunard Cruise for BAM and NYCO

On Thursday, May 24, 2007, Cunard Line will welcome guests from the New York City Opera (City Opera) and Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) aboard the company's flagship Queen Mary 2 for The Britannia Ball, a gala evening benefiting both cultural institutions. The ball will include: cocktails, dinner, dancing to Peter Duchin and his orchestra and a special performance by Tony Award-winner Patti LuPone (Evita, Sweeney Todd) who will perform a special rendition of "The Lady with The Torch" in the ship's Royal Court Theater.

The Britannia Ball will be sponsored by CIT Group Inc. (NYSE: CIT), a leading global provider of commercial and consumer finance solutions. CIT Chairman and CEO Jeffrey M. Peek and his wife Elizabeth will serve as co-Chairs of the event. Brian T. Leary of Massey Knakal will serve as Vice Chair.

Docked for this special night at its New York home, the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, Queen Mary 2 - the world's most luxurious ocean liner - will serve as the elegant setting for the evening's festivities, and The Britannia Ball guests will have full access to all the public areas of the ocean liner including: the Queens Room, the largest ballroom at sea, the Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar, the Royal Court Theater and Illuminations, the only planetarium at sea. Queen Mary 2 will set sail the next day for her Memorial Day cruise to the Bahamas.

City Opera and BAM are institutions that share similar missions which reflect a commitment to artistic excellence, innovation and accessibility. Their audiences are sophisticated and adventurous and include many social and corporate leaders of New York. Together the companies reach more than 650,000 individuals annually and have helped to transform the cultural landscape of New York City. All proceeds from The Britannia Ball will be divided equally to support programs at City Opera and BAM.

Cunard Line's President Carol Marlow commented, "As the most iconic British ocean liner company, Cunard Line has long been the travel choice for artists, politicians and celebrities. Since Queen Mary 2's launch, she has hosted such notables as Her Majesty The Queen, Senator Hillary Clinton, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Lenny Kravitz, Uma Thurman, Angela Bassett, Rod Stewart and Carly Simon. The Britannia Ball reflects our company's enormous regard for artists and the performing arts institutions that create vibrant destinations throughout the world. We are honored to partner with City Opera and BAM, two organizations that embody the excitement and innovation of the arts in New York."

Hosts for The Britannia Ball include Chairs Elizabeth and Jeffrey M. Peek; Brian T. Leary; Carol Marlow, President of Cunard Line; Paul Kellogg, General & Artistic Director, Jane M. Gullong, Executive Director and Susan L. Baker, Chairman of New York City Opera; and Karen Brooks Hopkins, President, Joseph V. Melillo, Executive Producer and Alan H. Fishman, Chairman of Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Tickets for The Britannia Ball are $1,000; and $2,500 for a VIP ticket that includes access to an exclusive cocktail reception, as well as preferred seating for the performance and dinner. Approximately 1,000 guests are expected to attend. Those interested may call BAM Patron Services at 718-636-4182 for tickets to The Britannia Ball and information about booking a premiere Suite on Queen Mary 2's Memorial Day Weekend cruise to the Bahamas.   Visit www.cit.com for more information.

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