Photo Coverage: O'Hara, Rapp et al. Honor Kiser at Second Stage Gala

Last night, Monday April 19, Second Stage Theatre hosted their annual spring gala in honor of Tony Kiser, a trustee and Co-Chairman of the theater for 29 years. Performers Kelli O'Hara and Greg Naughton, Anthony Rapp, Alison Fraser, Pulitzer Prize Winner Tom Kitt, Derrick Baskin, Noah Racey and John Scherer, Becca Ayres, D'Atra Hicks, and Julie Foldesi paid tribute to Kiser in celebration. The evening additionally featured a cocktail reception and dinner. BroadwayWorld was there to capture the performers.

Director Carole Rothman and actress Robyn Goodman founded Second Stage Theatre in 1979 to give 'second stagings' to contemporary American plays that originally failed to find an audience due to scheduling problems, inappropriate venues or limited performance runs. Since then, Second Stage has evolved from a small theatre into an Off-Broadway institution dedicated to developing plays, artists and audiences.

For three decades, Second Stage Theatre productions have launched the successful careers of numerous directors, actors, playwrights and artists, many of whom regularly return to work at Second Stage. The company's mission also has expanded to the commissioning of a body of multigenerational plays; the creation of a training base for young directors and a home base for mid-career directors; and the development of educational projects that are integrated with the ongoing artistic work at the theatre.

Photo Credit: Emily Faye Oakley