Ben Vereen to Receive Gold Coast Arts Center's Lifetime Achievement Award

Internationally acclaimed superstar Ben Vereen will receive the Gold Coast Arts Center's Lifetime Achievement Award at an opening night reception of the Gold Coast International Film Festival on Monday, November 4, 2019 at 6 p.m. at the Krasnoff Theater at Tilles Center in Brookville, New York according to Regina Gil, founder and executive director of the multi-cultural, nonprofit arts organization.

As part of the evening's festivities, there will be a VIP cocktail reception with Ben Vereen; performances by the award-winning Uniondale (NY) High School show choir, Rhythm of the Knight; and the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award followed by a special, intimate conversation with Mr. Vereen, led byFrank DiLella, the Emmy Award-winning host of "On Stage" seen on Spectrum News' NY1. The evening will conclude with a dessert reception. For information and tickets, please call 516-829-2570, or visit the Gold Coast Art Center's website www.goldcoastarts.org.

"Ben Vereen's talent and versatility as a singer/dancer actor/performer, coupled with his ardent advocacy for the arts, made him the ideal choice to receive the Gold Coast Arts Center's Lifetime Achievement Award," stated Ms. Gil. "From his Tony Award-winning role in 'Pippin,' stellar performance in such musicals as 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' 'Fosse,' 'Chicago,' and 'Wicked' to his brilliant performances in films like 'Sweet Charity' and 'All That Jazz,' there are few entertainers as accomplished and recognized as Mr. Vereen. And, let's not forget his memorable role as Chicken George in the groundbreaking television series 'Roots' that made Ben Vereen a household name."

Vereen has spoken before Congress in defense of the National Endowment for the Arts against proposed budget cuts. For his humanitarian efforts, he has received several awards including Israel's Cultural and Humanitarian Award, three NAACP Image Awards, and an Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award. Ben Vereen has also been inducted into The Theatre Hall of Fame and the Dance Hall of Fame, and he has received the Broadwayworld.com's Cabaret Award for Best Celebrity Male Vocalist.

Among Ben Vereen's recent projects include the television series "Bull" and "Magnum P.I.," both on CBS; FOX's "Star" produced by Lee Daniels; "Sneaky Pete" with Bryan Cranston (Amazon), "Rocky Horror Picture Show" (20th Century Fox); "Time Out of Mind" with Richard Gere and "Top Five" with Chris Rock. He is currently working on his new Broadway musical, "Reflections," written by Joe Calarco, to be directed by Tony-nominee Josh Bergasse with music by Stephen Schwartz.

Performing at the tribute to Ben Vereen will be the award-winning Uniondale High School's show choir, Rhythm of the Knight, the 2018 Fame Show Choir National Champions. Known for their vibrant energetic style, Rhythm of the Knight has performed at numerous venues, competitions, and events in the greater New York Tri-State area and beyond, and has been featured on NBC's "Today," CNN, "FOX and Friends," FOX 5's "Good Day NY," ABC's "Here and Now," FiOS1 News, News12 Long Island, and in Newsday and the New York Times.

Uniondale Schools are a partner with the Gold Coast Art Center's Kennedy Center Partners in Education initiative that assists underserved communities in developing a plan for expanded arts education, ensuring access to the arts for all students in grades K-8.

Sponsors and partners of this year's Gold Coast International Film Festival include: Founding Partners, the Town of North Hempstead and Douglas Elliman Real Estate; Major Partners, Hofstra University and the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency; as well as the Long Island Community Foundation; Neiman Marcus Garden City; Atria Senior Living; AARP Long Island; A.L. Sarroff Fund; Peter & Jeri DeJana Family Foundation; TD Charitable Foundation; Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP; Samar Hospitality; The Katz Institute for Women's Health at Northwell Health; Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock; Goidel Law Group PLLC; The Bristal Assisted Living; Jet Blue; El Al; Liman Video Rental; The Inn at Great Neck; Operation Democracy; WLIW21; Altice; Anton Publications; Blank Slate Media; Long Island Parent; Science on Screen; and many local businesses including LOLA, American Brasserie and Rothchilds Coffee and Kitchen.