Photo Flash: A Very MARY Holiday benefiting The Ali Forney Center

Tony Award Winner and current star of Broadway's Women on the Verge, Laura Benanti (Gypsy, In the Next Room, Nine) has been chosen as this year's Broadway Speaks OUT! Hero Award Honoree, replacing Actress Judith Light due to scheduling conflicts during the busy holiday season.

Marti Gould Cummings (Co-Founder, Broadway Speaks OUT) said this of the change in honoree:

"Judith Light has regretfully had to decline her invitation to A Very MARY Holiday. Tony Award Winner Laura Benanti was the instant and obvious choice to receive our first annual award. Laura has been a fierce advocate of LGBT rights and a strong loyal supporter of Broadway Speaks OUT and our endeavors. It is with great pride and please to welcome her to this event and to present her with an award that she truly deserves as one of the Broadway communities top performers and leaders speaking out for the equality of all"

As previously stated, A Very MARY Holiday will be presented Monday, November 29 at 8pm, being held at Dixon Place. The starry benefit will be hosted by Cummings, and boasts the ferocious talents of Kate Shindle (Legally Blonde) , John Arthur Greene (West Side Story), Matt Doyle (Bye Bye Birdie, "Gossip Girl"), Matt Shingledecker (West Side Story), Annie Golden (The Full Monty), Michelle Dowdy (Hairspray), Brian Charles Rooney (Three Penny Opera), Tracy McDowell (Rent), Malan Breton (Project Runway), Chase Davidson (Spring Awakening), Krystina Alabado (Spring Awakening), Scott Nevins (truTV's The Smoking Fun Presents), Kate Pazakis, Megan Reinking, Alex Ellis, Taylor Mac, Marcus Simione, Composer Scott Alan, The Broadway Dolls and Ryan Nickulas and TJ Kelly (Logo's A-List NY) . Orfeh (Legally Blonde) and other broadway stars will film special video messages for the evening. Author, political strategist, and civil right's activist, David Mixner will be the night's Keynote Speaker.

Drexel D. Heard II, serves as the evening's Director, with Kristen Lee Rosenfeld (Music Director), Brad Gardner (BSO's Music Director), and John Murdock (Production Stage Manager)

A Very MARY Holiday is being produced by Broadway Speaks OUT!, Dixon Place, generous supporters on Broadway Speaks OUT!'s Kickstarter. The event will is also being sponsored by Gay City News, GIVIN Liqueur, www.talkaboutequality.com, and Ferality Show.

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