(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- George Street Playhouse has announced an initial roster of Broadway, film and television stars expected to appear at its Annual Gala Benefit on Sunday, April 2, 2017 at 5:00pm at The Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick. Among the highlights of the evening’s Cabaret are Tim Daly (TV’s Wings, Madam Secretary), Tony Award-winning playwright and longtime friend of the Playhouse Joe DiPietro, and Tony Award nominee Nancy Opel, who will be starring in the musical Curvy Widow – the last production of GSP’s current season and the last to be staged in its current building, which will be razed to make way for a performing arts center to serve as GSP’s new home starting with the 2019-20 season. Stage and screen great Mary Beth Peil (Tony Award-nominated for Broadway’s The King and I; TV’s Dawson’s Creek and The Good Wife) is also slated to perform.
Other stars from George Street’s 2016-17 season scheduled to make an appearance include Suzzanne Douglas (American Son), Betsy Aidem (Mama’s Boy), and Ben Michael and Elise Vannerson from Daddy Long Legs. The cast of GSP’s 2004 production of Jonathan Larson’s Tick, Tick...Boom! – Colin Hanlon, Sarah Litzsinger and Stephen Bienskie – are also slated to perform.
This year, George Street Playhouse honors one of its own as David Saint will receive the Arthur Laurents Award for Distinguished Artistic Achievement in celebration of his 20th season the Playhouse’s Artistic Director. It will be presented by legendary screenwriter, film director and actress Elaine May.
The Thomas H. Kean Arts Advocacy Award will be bestowed upon Marlene and Tony Volpe, longtime supporters of George Street Playhouse, by the namesake of the award, Governor Kean.
The black-tie evening draws corporate, civic and social leaders from throughout the region. Each year, the Gala raises hundreds of thousands of dollars to support George Street Playhouse’s world-class mainstage productions and nationally recognized educational programs. The silent auction is one of the highlights of the Playhouse’s Annual Gala, and offers luxury vacation trips, home furnishings, tickets to hard-to-get Broadway shows, fine dining experiences, top sports venues and much more.
The Black Tie affair at The Heldrich (located on Livingston Avenue directly across the street from George Street Playhouse) begins at 5 pm with a cocktail reception and silent auction. Dinner follows at 6:30 pm with the Cabaret performance commencing at 7:30.
Kenneth M. Fisher, Jr. of Hillsborough serves as Benefit Chair. GSP Board Chair James Heston of Metuchen, and GSP Board President Penelope Lattimer of New Brunswick, serve as Sponsorship Co-Chairpersons. Janice Haggerty of Bedminster, and Gabrielle Vajtay of Somerset serve as Silent Auction Co-Chairpersons. W. Burton “Tripp” Salisbury of North Brunswick, and Janice Stolar of East Brunswick are Tickets & Tables Co-Chairpersons. Lora Tremayne of Somerset serves as Journal Chairperson.
Rounding out the Annual Gala Benefit Committee are Joseph P. Benincasa, president & CEO of The Actors Fund and the 2016 Kean Award recipient; Joan Campbell of North Brunswick; Carol Hila of Woodbridge; Sharon Karmazin, president of The Karma Foundation; Jocelyn Schwartzman of East Brunswick; and Frances C. Stromsland, Ed.D., of Watchung.
Sponsors for the evening include The Family of Robert Wood Johnson, Jr., Marlene and Tony Volpe, Joan and Robert Campbell, James N. Heston, Sharon Karmazin, David Saint, WithumSmith+Brown, PSE&G, TD Bank, Nassau Communications.
