CANY's 2013 Gala to Honor Katie Finneran, Kathleen Marshall and Janet L. Levy, 4/29

Tony Award winner Dick Latessa, Honorary Board Chair, brings together Broadway stars to help raise funds for Creative Alternatives of New York (CANY) which uses drama therapy to help New York's most vulnerable children and adults. This year's 2013 Annual Gala, which celebrates 30 years of the CANY mission of creativity, community and change to rebuild lives, will be held on Monday, April 29, 2013 at the Edison Hotel Ballroom (240 West 47th Street). The 2013 Honorees are Tony Award winners Katie Finneran and Kathleen Marshall, and in memoriam, CANY Founding Chairperson, Janet L. Levy.

Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails, appetizers and silent auction. Dinner, show and live auction start at 7:45 p.m. and includes a Special Performance by Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth, and video presentation by stage, film and television actor Victor Garber. Tony Award winner Judith Light will present the award to Ms. Finneran, Tony Award winner Matthew Broderick will present the award to Ms. Marshall, and CANY Founding Board Member James I. Black, III will present the award to Mrs. Levy's family.

For 30 years, Creative Alternatives of New York (CANY) has been offering drama therapy programs to traumatized children and adults in the New York Metropolitan area, helping them to build new life skills and realize their potential through the art of drama. Working in partnership with leading social service organizations and health care institutions, CANY provides approximately 1,400 therapeutic theatre groups annually in residential centers for children and youth, special schools, veterans mental health centers, and domestic violence safe shelters. CANY was honored with the 2012 Aaron Stein Memorial Fund Award by The American Group Psychotherapy Association, given to organizations that utilize the creative applications of group theory and technique to benefit the community, particularly in non-psychotherapeutic settings.

"As an artist, I strongly believe that theatre can change lives," said Academy Award-winner and CANY Board Member Susan Sarandon. "At CANY this is being proven on a daily basis."

For more information, visit www.cany.org.