Photos: National Asian Artists Project and Baayork Lee Celebrate Gala Fundraiser In Chinatown

On Friday night, June 2, 2023, The Golden Unicorn, in the heart of New York City’s Chinatown, came to vibrant life as supporters of National Asian Artists Project (NAAP) gathered for the first time, since the pandemic. The excitement in the air was palpable and no one could have been happier than Baayork Lee, who received the Isabelle Stevenson Special Tony Award for her legacy and work with this group, over the years.

Baayork and Richard Jay-Alexander (with Kyle Garvin, Matt Berman, Rocky Noel and Musical Director Joey Chancey), assembled the evening’s entertainment and bringing the Chinatown restaurant to glamorous life. Performances, speeches and very special honors and recognitions made it a multiple celebration, in the midst of a sumptuous multi-course feast of sublime Chinese food.

As Baayork told us, “I was so nervous after so many years of not presenting anything that people would be cautious about attending the Gala. They would come at 6:00, sit down and watch the show! Well!! At 5:30 the doors opened, the place was swarming with party makers, drinking champagne and seeing their friends. By 6:35 Nellie Beavers had to tell me ‘Baayork, we’ve got to get this show on the ROAD!’

As I walked around the room observing everyone eating their jumbo shrimp and lobster, everyone was so engaged in talking to their neighbors and their friends new and old and there was so much love in that room, I was overwhelmed. As we paused the show to allow people to enjoy the courses, people were jumping up and visiting other tables, and I was just blown away that everyone was so eager to participate in the evening. 

The audience was so engaged with the honorees, Virginia Wing, Henry Yuk, and Lori Tan Chinn - and with the videos and photos up on the big screen that enhanced their wonderful and insightful acceptance speeches. 

People were so happy to be in the presence of live performers again — and our soloists Brian José, Ann Harada and Devin Ilaw as well as  The Theatre Club from PS 124 and the NAAP Community Choir were equally pleased to be performing for a live audience again, too.

As this wonderful evening came to a close, people continued to stay, drink champagne and chat for almost 2 hours afterwards until the restaurant said – ‘you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here!’ And that’s how it went! You had to be there!”