Bernadette Peters, Norm Lewis and More to Honor Cameron Mackintosh at Signature's Sondheim Gala

On March 20, 2017, Virginia's Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre will honor legendary Broadway producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh (The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, LES MISERABLES) with the company's eighth Stephen Sondheim Award.

The award, established in 2009, is given to an individual for his or her career contributions to interpreting, supporting, and collaborating on Stephen Sondheim's music works. The Stephen Sondheim Award will be presented at a black-tie Gala Benefit at the Embassy of Italy and will benefit Signature Theatre's artistic, education, and community programs.

"I'm thrilled that Signature is able to give the Stephen Sondheim Award to Cameron Mackintosh," says Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer. "This year marks the 50th anniversary of Cameron's career as a producer and over those years Steve and Cameron have had a long fruitful relationship. It will be an honor to salute the world's most successful theatrical producer."

Tony Award-winner Bernadette Peters (Follies, Sunday in the Park with George), will join Norm Lewis (Phantom of the Opera, Porgy & Bess), and Liz Callaway (Miss Saigon, Baby) to honor the renowned Stephen Sondheim collaborator.

Cameron Mackintosh has produced the three longest-running musicals in history The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, and LES MISERABLES. LES MISERABLES is the world's longest-running musical and Phantom of the Opera is Broadway's longest-running musical. His new production of Miss Saigon is set to open on Broadway in March of 2017. His collaboration with Stephen Sondheim began in 1976 with the West End production of Side by Side by Sondheim and the subsequent Broadway production. In 1987, he produced a revised West End production of Follies and would later collaborate with Mr. Sondheim on the Broadway production of Putting it Together starring Carol Burnett and directed by Eric Schaeffer. Sir Mackintosh was also involved in the West End transfer of Tooting Arts Club's critically acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd.

Signature is thrilled to salute Ms. Rynthia M. Rost, Esq. VP GEICO as the lead sponsor and event chair for the 2017 Signature Theatre Sondheim Award Gala. "I am proud to support Signature Theatre and to honor the incredible accomplishments of Sir Cameron Mackintosh, one of the most important and notable theatrical producers of our time," says Rost. "At GEICO we are committed to the arts and creativity and the overall mission of theater to foster artistic expression for youth and adults. Sir Mackintosh's work exemplifies how essential the arts are and I'm honored to help support Signature Theatre and the terrific work it does on our stages and with the young people in our community, at this year's Sondheim Award gala."

Cameron Mackintosh has produced the three longest-running musicals in history: LES MISERABLES, The Phantom of the Opera and Cats. His spectacular new production of Miss Saigon opens on Broadway in March 2017 whilst his co-production with Disney of Mary Poppins sprinkles its magic worldwide. His new version of Half A Sixpence recently opened in London to wide critical acclaim. He's currently working on film versions of Oliver! and Miss Saigon following the hugely successful film of LES MISERABLES. He owns nine London theatres including the Victoria Palace, which after a major refurbishment, will re-open in October 2017 with the Award-winning musical, Hamilton, co-produced with Jeffrey Seller. Cameron has 10 productions opening around the world and three musicals currently running on Broadway. In addition, the tour of LES MISERABLES returns to Washington DC in December of 2017. Cameron was knighted in 1996 and recently elected to the Theater Hall of Fame.

In 2009, Signature Theatre inaugurated The Stephen Sondheim Award in recognition of the importance of Mr. Sondheim's work to Signature and to theatre in general. In April 2010 the first award was given to stage, screen, and television actress Angela Lansbury. In 2011, Tony Award-winning actress and singerBernadette Peters received the award. In 2012, the award went to Tony Award-winner Patti LuPone. In 2013, the award was given to legendary Broadway director and producer Harold "Hal" Prince. In 2014, the award went to longtime Sondheim collaborator and orchestrator Jonathan Tunick. In 2015, the award was given to Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and collaborator James Lapine and last year's celebration paid tribute to longtime Sondheim collaborator John Weidman.

The Award is given on a yearly basis to an individual for his or her career contributions to interpreting, supporting, and collaborating on Stephen Sondheim's music works. To date, Signature has presented 25 Stephen Sondheim productions, more than any other theatre in the United States. In 2002, Signature's Eric Schaeffer was the Artistic Director of "The Sondheim Celebration" at The Kennedy Center.

Table sponsorship for the 2016 Sondheim Award Gala ranges from $10,000 to $100,000 and includes rewarding, year-long visibility and entertainment benefits. Individual tickets are $1,000. For more information about sponsorship and tickets contact Nathan Alston, Development Manager at (571) 527-1828 orevents@sigtheatre.org.

Recipient of the 2009 Regional Theatre Tony Award, Signature Theatre is a non-profit professional theater company in Arlington, Virginia dedicated to producing contemporary musicals and plays, reinventing classic musicals, and developing new work. Under the leadership of co-founder and Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer and Managing Director Maggie Boland, Signature has presented 44 world premiere productions and is renowned for combining Broadway-quality productions with intimate playing spaces.

In addition to hosting the finest talent from the DC metropolitan area and New York, Signature has been home to such luminaries as Chita Rivera, Sheryl Crow, Barry Levinson, George Hearn, Hunter Foster, Emily Skinner, Kathleen Marshall, Ann Reinking, Marc Kudisch, Judy Kuhn, John Kander and Fred Ebb, Cameron Mackintosh, Terrence McNally, and the company's signature composer, Stephen Sondheim. Since its founding in 1989, Signature has won 94 Helen Hayes Awards for excellence in the Washington, DC region's professional theater and has been honored with 386 nominations.