Photo Flash: Amas Musical Theatre Celebrates Aherns and Flaherty at 2017 Gala

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer), New York City's award-winning pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since 1968, recently held the company's 48th Anniversary Gala Benefit honoring the Tony Award-winning composing team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty on Monday, April 3, 2017 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center (East 25th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues). Honorary Chair for the event was Tony Award-winning actress, singer and dancer Chita Rivera and noted theatre journalist Peter Filichia returned as Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

Scheduled to participate in "The Flip Side: Unknown Musical Gems by Ahrens and Flaherty," a musical salute to the evening's honorees was Broadway's Liz Callaway (Baby, Cats), Eddie Korbich (Seussical, A Gentleman's Guide...),Tina Fabrique (Dessa Rose), Alli Mauzey (Wicked, Cry Baby), Janet Metz (Fiddler on the Roof, On the Town) Kenita R. Miller (The Color Purple) N'Kenge (Motown), Evan Pappas (Parade, My Favorite Year), as well as Mick Bleyer, Jerusha Cavazos, Darlesia Cearcy, Doug Eskew, Kevin R. Free, Jeremiah James, Lauren Lukacek, and Juan Torres-Falcon. Direction is by Jonathan Cerullo with Musical Direction by Deborah Abramson.

The gala evening began at 6:00pm with a champagne reception and silent auction. At 7:00pm, students of the Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Academy, Amas' flagship education program, presented a sneak peek of their upcoming spring production, followed by the aforementioned show. The evening culminated in presentation of "The Rosie Award," this year bestowed upon the Tony Award winning composers Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Anastasia, Once on This Island, Ragtime, Rocky, Seussical, Dessa Rose). A scholarship in the name of Amas founder Rosetta LeNoire was also given to college-bound Amy Tolentino attending the Amas Teen Academy.

"Lynn and Stephen exemplify the spirit of Rosetta LeNoire because of their extraordinary accomplishments and dedication in bringing our world more closely together through the theatrical arts," said Donna Trinkoff, Amas Producing Artistic Director. "Their musicals have explored the cultural terrains of bigotry and exclusion. Their magnificent musical Ragtime encompassed the immigrant experience in the early 20th Century; Once on this Island is a story about the haves and have nots on a Caribbean Island; Dessa Rose is the story of the liberation and spiritual awakening of two women of different color during the time of slavery. Their work is both inspirational and beautiful."

Photo Credit: Ann-Sophie Fjellø-Jensen For Ben Hider Photography

Donna Trinkoff, Jan Hacha
Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Aherns
Stephen Flaherty, Jonathan Cerullo, Lynn Aherns
Donna Trinkoff, Priscilla Lopez
Leslie Uggams, Graham Pratt
Donna Trinkoff, Leslie Uggams, Graham Pratt
Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Aherns, Terrance McNally
Donna Trinkoff, Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Aherns, Terrance McNally
Lynn Aherns, Amy Tolentino, Stephen Flaherty
Lynn Aherns, Liz Callaway, Stephen Flaherty
Lynn Aherns, N'Kenge, Stephen Flaherty
Jonathan Cerullo, Lynn Aherns, Deborah Abramson, Stephen Flaherty
Priscilla Lopez, Peter Filichia
Donna Trinkoff
Amy Tolentino and The Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Academy Students
Mick Bleyer, Tina Fabrique, Juan Torres-Falcon, Kevin R. Free
Evan Pappas, Tina Fabrique
N'Kenge
Liz Callaway
Jeremiah James, Darlesia Cearcy, N'Kenge
Full Company sings 'Our Children' 
Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Aherns, Amy Tolentino
Terrance McNally, Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Aherns
Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Aherns
Full Company of THE FLIP SIDE