Falco, Peters, Zeta-Jones et al. Honor Lansbury Tonight at Drama League Gala, 2/8

The Drama League's 26th annual all-star gala, "A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BROADWAY," honoring five-time Tony Award winner and entertainment icon Angela Lansbury, will take place tonight, Monday, February 8, 2010 at the Pierre New York (2 East 61st Street at 5th Avenue).

The Drama League recently announced that in addition to the full price tickets, a limited number of "performance-only" tickets are now available for $200 each (ticket price includes rear seating for the performance portion only).

The previously announced line-up of performers includes Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bernadette Peters, Audra McDonald, Victor Garber, Chita Rivera, Donna Murphy, Cheyenne Jackson, T.R. Knight, Malcolm Gets, Len Cariou, Christopher Sieber, Will Swenson, Will Chase, Chad Kimball, Marian Seldes, Beth Fowler, Edie Falco, Charles Busch, James Barbour, Dee Hoty, Alexander Gemignani, and Sarah Rice. The evening will include musical selections from Lansbury's prolific career, including Mame, Sweeney Todd, Beauty and the Beast, Anyone Can Whistle, Gypsy and more. (Previously announced participants Christine Ebersole and Brian d'Arcy James have since withdrawn due to scheduling conflicts.)

"A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BROADWAY" is co-directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer and his Spring Awakening Associate Director, Beatrice Terry.

Among the highlights of The Drama League's annual benefit gala is the remarkable Gala Auction. This year's auction will again prove to be most exciting and will feature a variety of stunning one-of-a-kind vacation packages, luxury gift items, intimate lunches with celebrities and unique theatrical experiences. And as first introduced last year, bidding on the Gala Auction has been made available to the general public via The Drama League's website, www.dramaleague.org, or directly at www.biddingforgood.com/thedramaleague.

The auction mini-site is now open, and bids will be taken on dozens of packages until the the gala event on February 8.

New packages added to the online auction this week include:

~ City of Angels Wine Lover's Tour - Your wine lover's tour begins with airfare for two (courtesy of Southwest Airlines) plus a 3-night stay in a spectacular one-bedroom suite at the W Los Angeles - Westwood. Take in the splendor of beautiful Southern California with your very own VIP Tour for 4 of the Cielo Farms Wineyards, winner of the San Francisco International Wine Competition 2008. After your tour, enjoy a private wine tasting at SIP Malibu and take the splendor home with your own case of personally selected wines. This luxurious vacation also includes a gift certificate to Madison Los Angeles.

~ AMERICAN IDIOT Opening Night - Enjoy two (2) opening night tickets to Broadway's American Idiot on Tuesday, April 20, 2010. Plus two passes to the Opening Night party. Directed by The Drama League's very own Director's Project alumnus Michael Mayer and featuring the music of Green Day.

~ Backstage with Angela Lansbury - Enjoy two (2) tickets to Broadway's A Little Night Music, starring this year's gala honoree Angela Lansbury! Following the show, you will have the opportunity to chat with Ms. Lansbury in a VIP meet and greet!

~ Custom Watercolor Portrait by John Lithgow - Tony and Emmy Award winner John Lithgow will create an original watercolor portrait using candid photographs submitted by the auction winner.

For a complete list of items and packages, visit www.biddingforgood.com/thedramaleague. All proceeds from this auction will support The Drama League Directors Project.

"A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BROADWAY" begins at 7 p.m. with a cocktail reception and silent auction/raffle in the Cotillion Room, followed by an elegant seated dinner at 8 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom, followed by the performance.

All proceeds from "A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BROADWAY" support The Drama League, which was founded in 1916 as an association of theatre professionals and patrons dedicated to encouraging the finest in professional theatre and has since then developed into the theatre's premiere service organization.

Full-price tickets for "A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BROADWAY" are $750-$1,995. Tables of ten are available from $7,500 - $18,000.

To reserve seats or receive any additional information about The Drama League, please call Special Events Manager Roger Calderon at (212) 244-9494, ext. 5. For more information, please visit www.dramaleague.org.