Baranski Hosts MTC Spring Gala 5/18, Numbers From BILLY ELLIOT & More Performed

Manhattan Theatre Club will present its Annual Spring Gala on Monday, May 18, 2009, at Cipriani 42nd Street, 110 East 42nd Street. The show will include numbers from this season's best musicals, including Billy Elliot, The Devil's Music, 9 to 5: The Musical, Shrek The Musical, West Side Story and others. The show will be hosted by two-time Tony, Emmy, SAG, American Comedy and Drama Desk Award winner, Christine Baranski.

MTC will honor Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) for its longtime support of and commitment to the organization.

Christine Baranski has appeared extensively at Manhattan Theatre Club in such shows as Sally and Marsha, It's Only a Play, Regrets Only, Lips Together, Teeth Apart, and The Loman Family Picnic. Her Broadway credits include Boeing-Boeing, The Real Thing, Rumors, Hurlyburly, and The House of Blue Leaves.

All monies raised from this annual event, including a silent auction, will benefit MTC's play and musical theatre development programs and its extensive educational outreach programs.

The Chair of the event is David C. Hodgson of General Atlantic LLC. Vice-chairs are Peter A. Bridgman of PepsiCo., Inc., Joseph H. Gleberman of Goldman, Sachs and Co., Joseph T. Healey of Sextant Search Partners, LLC, and Susan and Peter J. Solomon of Peter J. Solomon Company.

This black-tie benefit event begins at 7PM with cocktails and a silent auction, followed by dinner at 8PM and Gala Performance at 9:15PM. Tables of ten are available for $35,000, $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000; individual tickets are available for $2,500 and $1,000. For tickets and further information, call (212) 399-3000, ext. 4346 or visit www.manhattantheatreclub.com/gala.