Primary Stages to Honor the Legendary Samuel Biff Liff at Annual Gala 11/1

The annual Primary Stages Gala, a fundraiser benefiting the extensive artistic development programs offered by the company, will be held at the Edison Ballroom (240 west 47th Street, between Broadway & 8th Avenue) on Monday, November 1, 2010. Cocktail Reception and Silent Auction begin at 6:30 p.m.

Funds raised by the annual event benefit the Einhorn School of Performing Arts (ESPA), Dorothy Strelsin New American Writers Group, PrimeTime Reading Series, commissions and workshops, and valuable arts education programs.

This year's honoree is the legendary Broadway Producer, Manager and Agent Samuel ‘Biff' Liff who will receive the Dedication to New Plays Award, which is given at the annual Gala to an individual or group who have made significant contributions to the advancement of new plays.

The evening's entertainment will include performances by Alison Fraser, Marni Nixon, Jill O'Hara and Tony Roberts who will perform musical numbers from such Broadway hits as Guys & Dolls, Hello, Dolly, Mame, My Fair Lady, and Promises, Promises, all under the musical direction of Michael Lavine. There will be special tributes given by Manny Azenberg (Broadway Producer & General Manager), Marvin Einhorn, (Primary Stages Founding Board Member, Actor, Director & Lifelong Friend), Angela Lansbury (Five-Time Tony Award Winner) and Philip J. Smith (Chairman and Co-CEO of The Shubert Organization).

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director), is one of Off-Broadway's preeminent theater companies. Manny Azenberg and Philip J. Smith are the 2010 Gala Co-Chairs, with Sue Breger as the Event Chair and Marlene Freeman as the Silent Auction Chair.

"Samuel ‘Biff' Liff is a living legend of show business," said Casey Childs, Founder and Executive Producer at Primary Stages. "In his seventy-plus year career - as a stage manager, producer and agent - few people have influenced as many artists. Primary Stages Dedication to New Plays Award has a tradition of celebrating those individuals, like Biff Liff, who have been significantly instrumental in the creation of new work."

The celebration begins at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails and Silent Auction followed by dinner and great entertainment. Ticket and table prices range from $500 - $10,000. For additional information, tickets and sponsorships contact Jessica Comas at 212-840-9705 or specialevents@primarystages.org.

Past gala honorees have included Patti LuPone and The Baruch-Routh-Frankel-Viertel Group (2008), Daryl Roth and Jack O'Brien (2007), Julie Harris (2006), Susan Stroman (2005), Horton Foote and Primary Stages Founder and Executive Producer Casey Childs (2004), Harvey Fierstein (2003), A.R. Gurney (2001), John Guare (2000), Betty Comden and Adolph Green (1998), Stephen Sondheim (1997), Wendy Wasserstein (1996) and Terrence McNally (1995).

Primary Stages launched the 2010-2011 season with the New York premiere of Secrets of the Trade by Jonathan Tolins with direction by Matt Shakman that featured Amy Aquino, Bill Brochtrup, John Glover, Mark Nelson, and Noah Robbins.

Currently in performance through October 30th at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters is the World Premiere musical event, In Transit, with Book, Music and Lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez, James-Allen Ford, Russ Kaplan and Sara Wordsworth, with direction and musical staging by Joe Calarco and musical direction by Mary-Mitchell Campbell. The seven-member cast features Steve French, Celisse Henderson, Hannah Laird, Chesney Snow, Graham Stevens, Denise Summerford and Tommar Wilson.

The season will conclude with the world premiere of a new comedy, Black Tie, by A.R. Gurney directed by Mark Lamos (January 25 - March 20, 2011). Call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.TicketCentral.com for In Transit and Black Tie tickets. For additional information about Primary Stages, please visit the website at www.primarystages.org.

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