F. Murray Abraham, Hank Azaria & More Will Honor David Hyde Pierce at Drama League Gala

The Drama League has announced Tony Award and Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham (Amadeus), Emmy Award winner Hank Azaria ("The Simpsons"), Tony Award winner Christopher Durang (Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike), Tony Award winning Broadway Producer Daryl Roth (Kinky Boots), Tony Award nominees Kate Baldwin (Hello, Dolly!), Drama Desk nominee John Bolton (Curtains), along with Lea DeLaria ("Orange is the New Black") and Peri Gilpin ("Frazier"), have joined the roster of special guest performers for The 33rd Annual Drama League Centennial Musical Celebration of Broadway honoring Tony and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce to be held on Monday evening, November 7, 2016 at The Plaza (768 Fifth Avenue) in New York City.

This year's benefit gala culminates the organization's centennial celebration that began last November. The black-tie gala will feature dozens of stars from Hollywood and Broadway in a one-night-only musical tribute supporting The Drama League's educational initiatives for promising young artists. V

IP and Ballroom seats are available, with a limited number of seats open to the General Public. For more information, call (212) 244-9494, Ext. 101 or visit the website at www.dramaleague.org.

The lineup for the evening's one-of-a-kind musical tribute inspired by Mr. Pierce's career in theater, film and television, including this season's productions of A Life (Playwrights Horizons) and Hello, Dolly! will include stars of stage and screen Tyne Daly (It Shoulda Been You), Billy Porter (Kinky Boots), Bebe Neuwirth("Frasier"), Sierra Boggess (School of Rock), Christopher Sieber (Mathilda), Harriet Harris (It Shoulda Been You), Kristine Nielsen (Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike), Debra Monk (Curtains), Adam Kantor (Fiddler on the Roof), Brandon Uranowitz (An American in Paris), and more to be announced. Drama League Directors Project alumnus Shelley Butler (It Shoulda Been You) directs. The 33rd Annual Musical Celebration of Broadway Honoring David Hyde Pierce will be produced by Drama League Associate Producer Travis LeMont Ballenger. The creative team will include Rob Urbanati (writer), Joyce Chittick (choreographer), David Evans (music director), Samantha Saltzman (associate producer/director), Melissa M. Spengler (production stage manager), Nick Kolin (lighting), Mike Tracey(sound), Whitney Locher (costume), and Gabriel Stelian-Shanks (Drama League Executive Artistic Director).

Resolution Life is the proud Lead Season Sponsor of The Drama League. The Drama League Benefit Gala Sponsors include Delta Air Lines, the Official Airline of The Drama League; M.A.C. Cosmetics, the Official Makeup Partner of The Drama League; Starbright Floral Design, the Official Florist of The Drama League; and The Plaza.

The Musical Celebration of Broadway Gala Chairpersons are Anna May Feige and Stan Ponte, with Vice-Chairs Rebecca A. Gillan, Kathy Henderson, Mary Jain, Kari Nettles, Joseph and Lauren Pizza,Resolution Life, Elaine C. and W. WelDon Wilson, and Nadine Wong. The Benefit Gala Committee includes Bonnie Comley and Stewart F. Lane, Leslie C. Feldman, Ellie and James Johnson, Julie and Rich Meister, and The Woolworth Tower Residencies, Alchemy Properties.

The Drama League Benefit Gala helps to raise funds to support the educational training programs of The Drama League Directors Project. The award-winning initiative, which began in 1982 and whose alumni now number over 300, has been instrumental in launching the careers of Tony® Award winners Sam Gold (Fun Home, The Glass Menagerie), Diane Paulus (Waitress), Pam Mackinnon (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Amélie), Michael Mayer (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Burn This), and John Rando (On The Town); Tony Award nominees Mark Brokaw (Heisenberg), Christopher Ashley (Come From Away), Moritz von Steulpnagel (Hand to God) and Alex Timbers (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson); and OBIE and Emmy Award winners Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812), Lear deBessonet, R.J. Cutler, and Anne Kaufmann (A Life), to name a few. 'Drama League Directors' have been honored with Tony, Emmy, Grammy, Obie, Peabody, Drama Desk, GLAAD, Drama League, New York Drama Critics Circle, Outer Critics, Evening Standard, Lucille Lortel, Bessie, Princess Grace, Garland, Drama-Logue, Barrymore, Helen Hayes, Elliot Norton, and Joseph Jefferson Awards, and have directed films and plays that received Academy Award nominations and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

The Drama League of New York, since 1916, has been at the forefront of the American Theatre community, providing talent, audiences, and prosperous support. It is one of the nation's oldest continuously-operating, not-for-profit arts advocacy and education organizations. Through its programs, initiatives and events, The Drama League serves over 3,000 artists and 15,000 audience members each season with over 150 events and programs. More information can be found at www.dramaleague.org.