CANY to Honor Anita Gillette and Ellen Kealy, 4/30

Tony Award-Winner Dick Latessa, Honorary Board Chair, brings together Broadway stars to help raise funds for Creative Alternatives of New York (CANY) which uses drama therapy to help New York's most vulnerable children and adults. This year's 2012 Annual Gala, which highlights the CANY mission with the theme of "Creativity+ Community+ Change = Rebuilding Lives," is to be held at the Edison Hotel Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) on April 30, 2012. The 2012 Honorees are Broadway veteran, film and TV star Anita Gillette and CANY Chair Emerita, Ellen Kealy.

Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails, appetizers and silent auction. The program starting at 8:00 pm includes musical performances by Ann Hampton Callaway, Anita Gillette and other Broadway stars to be announced at a later date.

For additional information, please contact CANY at (212) 222-1969, or publicrelations@cany.org

For 29 years, Creative Alternatives of New York (CANY) has been offering drama therapy programs to traumatized children and adults in the New York Metropolitan area, helping them to build new life skills and realize their potential through the art of drama. Working in partnership with leading social service organizations and health care institutions, CANY provides approximately 1,400 therapeutic theatre groups annually in residential centers for children and youth, special schools, veterans mental health centers, and domestic violence safe shelters.

CANY was recently honored with the 2012 Aaron Stein Memorial Fund Award by The American Group Psychotherapy Association given to organizations that utilize the creative applications of group theory and technique to benefit the community, particularly in non-psychotherapeutic settings.

"As an artist, I strongly believe that theater can change lives," said Academy Award-winner and CANY Board Member Susan Sarandon. "At CANY this is being proven on a daily basis."