Alicia Keys To Headline Dinner With the Stars At Stifel Theatre

Variety is pleased to announce that master of musical styles and platinum- selling performer Alicia Keys will headline Dinner with the Stars, Variety's pinnacle event to top off Variety Week! The dinner and concert will be held at Stifel Theatre on April 13, and, for the seventh time, will be underwritten by The Steward Family Foundation, Centene Charitable Foundation, and World Wide Technology so that all funds raised will go directly to local Variety Kids. Variety Week is the pillar fundraising and awareness campaign for the charity.

Dinner with the Stars has been Variety St. Louis' premier black tie gala for more than 50 years. This event, chaired for the 23nd consecutive year by the incomparable Marilyn Fox, brings together some of St. Louis' most esteemed, philanthropic citizens to celebrate Variety, and experience a performance from an iconic, critically acclaimed entertainer.

Alicia Keys is a 15-time Grammy Award-winning singer/song writer/producer -nominated 29 times -and has released six studio albums to critical acclaim. She is known for her stunning vocals and for being an accomplished pianist, with songs that have continued to top the charts. Outside of music, Keys is also an actress, a New York Times best-selling author, an entrepreneur and a powerful force in the world of philanthropy. She has also acted as a Coach on NBC's hit show "The Voice" and, most recently, will serve as the host of the 2019 Grammy Awards.

St. Louis native actor, comedian, and movie producer Joe Torry will host the evening's program alongside some Variety kids. The program will feature a performance by the inclusive Variety Children's Chorus and celebration of Variety's 2019 Man and Woman of the Year Spencer Koch and Carol Staenberg

For more information, and to reserve tables or tickets for this year's event, visit varietystl.org/dinner-with-the-stars.

Dinner with the Stars caps off a full week of Variety events:

• Variety Week starts Saturday, April 6, at St. Louis Union Station with Runway Lights

Fashion Show, where Variety will feature the collection from Lafayette 148 New York Spring Collection in a New York-style runway show. Designer Carmen Marc Valvo will create three custom dresses for Variety Kids who will model and demonstrate their independence using their Ameren Power Wheelchairs.

• The Week continues on Tuesday, April 9, with the Fox 2/News 11 Variety in the Morning.

• Wednesday, April 10 will be Imo's for Kids Day. Imo's Pizza will offer at least 10 percent of profits of all sales of the Square Beyond Compare on this day to Variety. This annual event traditionally raises six figures for the children's charity.

• Dinner with the Stars will be held April 13. This year marks Marilyn Fox's 23nd year as Dinner with the Stars Chair. Last year's Dinner with the Stars, featuring singer John Legend, performed to a packed house.

Variety empowers children with physical and developmental disabilities, also referred to as children with special needs, and improves their quality of life. Our programs highlight ability rather than disability. This holistic approach gives access to critical medical equipment and therapies, along with innovative Camp and Performing Arts programs, which provide opportunities for recreation, socialization, and artistic expression. Children gain or maintain independence, boost socialization among their friends and family, demonstrate belief in themselves, and increase skills they need to engage their world as fully as possible. www.varietystl.org