Star-studded Gala to Honor Alumni Felicity Huffman, Tony Kushner and George C. Wolfe; Salutes to Gerald Schoenfeld and Floria Lasky
December 4 Event to Feature Billy Crystal and an All-star Cast of Alumni
New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts (TSOA) will honor three of its most distinguished graduates at its annual Gala Benefit on Monday, December 4 at the St. James Theatre in New York City. Billy Crystal ‘70 will headline the star-studded event celebrating Broadway and the performing arts. The evening will pay tribute to alumni Felicity Huffman ‘88, Tony Kushner ‘84, and George C. Wolfe ‘84. Gerald Schoenfeld, chairman of The Schubert Organization, and Floria Lasky, president of the Frederick Loewe Foundation, will be saluted for their generosity and contributions to Broadway and the theatre.
Entitled Tisch on Broadway, the evening is being produced by Mary Schmidt Campbell, dean of TSOA and associate provost of the arts at NYU, in association with executive producer Bernie Brillstein, producer and TSOA Dean’s Council member, and producers Margo Lion, producer (Hairspray, Wedding Singer) and TSOA Dean’s Council member; Amanda Lipitz ‘02, producer (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Legally Blonde), TSOA Dean’s Council member, and alumna; Brett Ratner ‘90, film director (X-Men: The Last Stand, Red Dragon), TSOA Dean’s Council member, and alumnus; and Jordon Roth, co-manager of Jujamcyn theaters and producer (The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Donkey Show).
Some of the alumni friends scheduled to appear on stage are: Alec Baldwin ‘94, Kevin Cahoon ‘93, Billy Crudup ‘94, Kathryn Erbe ‘89, Mano Felciano ‘04, Marcia Gay Harden ‘88, Jessica Hecht ‘87, Michael Longoria ‘02, Jesse L. Martin ‘91, Matthew Morrison ‘01, Jerry O’Connell ‘95, Matthew Saldivar ‘96, Sean Patrick Thomas ‘95, Victor Williams ‘95, Chandra Wilson ‘91, and Frank Wood ‘87.
This year’s gala will begin with a pre-performance Champagne Toast hosted by alumnus Brett Ratner ‘90, from 6:00-7:00 PM., and a live stage show featuring alumnus Billy Crystal ‘70 along with other well-known alumni, beginning at 7:30 PM. Both will be held at the St. James Theatre, located at 246 West 44th Street, New York City. The evening will end with a Red Carpet Party at Blue Fin, located at 1567 Broadway, beginning at 9:15 PM.
The performance is directed by Artie Masella, and features musical direction by Seth Rudetsky, book by Chad Begeulin ‘91/92 and Laurence Maslon, casting by Bernie Telsey ‘81, original music and lyrics by Leon Ko ‘95 and Robert Lee ‘95, and choreography by Frank Ventura. The faculty advisor is Sarah Schlesinger.
Ticket prices range from $500 to $250,000. For Gala ticket information, contact Sharon Peterson at 212.992.9337, or Tisch.events@nyu.edu. For more detailed information, visit www.tisch.nyu.edu/object/gala2006.
Founded in 1965, NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts enrolls 3,700 students in fourteen programs and departments, offering BFA, MFA, MA, MPS, and PhD degrees through the Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film and Television, the Skirball Center for New Media, the Institute of Performing Arts, and the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music. The School’s list of alumni comprise many of today’s most celebrated artists, including: Pulitzer Prize winners Tony Kushner, Chang Lee, and Doug Wright; Academy Award winners Marcia Gay Harden, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Kaufman, Ang Lee, Oliver Stone, and Jim Taylor; Tony Award winners Billy Crystal, Idina Menzel, Rachel Sheinkin, Jeff Whitty, Frank Wood, and George C. Wolfe; Emmy Award winners Kristen Johnston, John Leguizamo, Camryn Manheim, and Debra Messing; as well as acclaimed filmmakers Chris Columbus, Amy Heckerling, Jim Jarmusch, Martin Scorsese, and M. Night Shyamalan.