Orfeh, George Salazar, and More to Perform at Theatre Forward Gala

Theatre Forward and Chairman John Thomopoulous will lead a celebration to support American theatre at the annual Chairman's Awards Gala on Monday, April 8th at The Pierre New York (2 East 61st Street at Fifth Avenue). The Chairman's Awards Gala supports the work of Theatre Forward, currently in its 41st Anniversary season, which is dedicated to advancing American theatres and its communities through its Educating Through Theatre and Advancing Strong Theatre initiatives.

Tony and Emmy Award winning and Academy Award nominated actor Bryan Cranston (Network, TV's Breaking Bad) will be honored this spring with the Theatre Artist Award, DORSEY & WHITNEY LLP will be honored with the Corporate Leadership Award and PAMELA FARR & BUFORD ALEXANDER will receive the Theatre Forward Leadership Award.

Tony Goldwyn (Network, TV's Scandal) will present the Theatre Artist Award to Bryan Cranston, Joseph Haj (Guthrie Theater) will present the Corporate Leadership Award to Dorsey & Whitney LLP and Barry Edelstein (The Old Globe) will present the Theater Forward Leadership Award to Pamela Farr & Buford Alexander.

The event will include performances by Ty Defoe (Straight White Men), George Salazar (Be More Chill, Godspell), Aurelia Williams (Once on this Island, In Transit) and ORFEH (Pretty Woman, Legally Blonde: The Musical), accompanied by Joe Iconis (Be More Chill, Broadway Bounty Hunter) and Geraldine Anello (Kinky Boots, School of Rock). Jeremy Pope (Choir Boy, Ain't Too Proud), Regina Taylor (Crowns) and Richard Thomas (The Little Foxes, An Enemy of the People) will speak about Education and Creating Community in theatre.

PAULA DOMINICK and CITI will serve as Gala Co-Chairs. Southwest Airlines will serve as the Auction Sponsor. Wells Fargo will serve as the Entertainment Sponsor.

The Gala will include cocktails, dinner, and performances, as well as a live and silent auction. Auction proceeds will benefit the creation of theatrical works and theatre education programs across the country serving 500,000 students. The Patron and Co-Chair Tables are priced at $25,000. Benefactor Tables are priced at $15,000 and Sponsor Tables are priced at $10,000. Ticket pricing is as follows: $2,500 (Patron Ticket), $1,500 (Individual Ticket). Journal ads and Sponsorships are also available.

For ticket information contact Em Atkins at (212) 750-6895 or eatkins@theatreforward.org.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Broski