Bikel, Rae, Etc. Join Actors' Fund Jerry Herman Tribute

The Actors' Fund will pay tribute to Jerry Herman at its 11th Annual Tony Awards Party featuring a live feed of the Tony Awards as they happen in New York.  Guests will be treated to a special performance by Karen Morrow (The Grass Harp), who will also present Herman with the Julie Harris Award for Lifetime Achievement.  Bruce Vilanch (Hairspray) will host.

The event will take place Sunday, June 10th, 2007 at the Skirball Center (2701 North Sepulveda Blvd.) in L.A.  Cocktails and a silent auction begin at 3:30 PM, with dinner and live telecast from 5 to 8 PM and the presentation to Herman at 8 PM.

In addition to Vilanch, the evening will feature Patricia Barry, Dick Gautier, Carole Cook, Mary Jo Catlett, Michael Learned, Charlotte Rae and Theodore Bikel.

"There is never an evening when, somewhere in the world, the music and lyrics of Jerry Herman are not being sung by a lady in a red headdress, or a lady with a bugle, or a middle-aged man in a wig and a boa.  Hello, Dolly!, Mame, and La Cage aux Folles are home to some of the most popular, most-often performed and most successful musical heroines of all time, and have given Jerry the distinction of being the only composer-lyricist in history to have had three musicals that ran more than 1,500 consecutive performances on Broadway.  His first Broadway show was Milk and Honey (1961), followed by Hello, Dolly! (1964), Mame (1966), Dear World (1969), Mack & Mabel (1974) The Grand Tour (1979), La Cage aux Folles (1983), Jerry's Girls (1985) and "Mrs. Santa Claus" (1966), a CBS-TV special starring Angela Lansbury.  Showtune, a revue of his life's work, is performing in regional theatres around the country.  Herman's string of awards and honors include Tonys, Grammys, Drama Desk Awards, the Johnny Mercer Award, the Richard Rodgers Award, the Oscar Hammerstein Award, the Frederick Lowe Award, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Theatre Hall of Fame.  He is the subject of the upcoming PBS documentary "Words and Music by Jerry Herman," a film by Amber Edwards.

Previous recipients have included Julie Harris, Gwen Verdon, Charles Durning, Rita Moreno, James Earl Jones, Tyne Daly, Lauren Bacall, Stockard Channing, Carol Channing and Liza Minnelli.

The Actors' Fund is a nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals - both performers and those behind the scenes - in performing arts and entertainment.  Founded in 1882 - and celebrating its 125th Anniversary this year -  The Fund serves those in film, theatre, television, music, opera, and dance with a broad spectrum of programs including comprehensive social services, health services, supportive and affordable housing, emergency financial assistance, employment and training services, and skilled nursing and assisted living care.  Administered from offices in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago, The Actors Fund is a safety net, providing programs and services for those who are in need, crisis, or transition. www.actorsfund.org.

Individual tickets are $200 and Tables of ten are available at $2,500 and $5,000.  Limited tickets are available and can be purchased by calling
The Actors' Fund at 323.933.9266 ext. 54 or at www.actorsfund.org.

Photo - Karen Morrow and Jerry Herman