GODSPELL's Anna Maria Perez de Tagle Set for INTAR Gala, 2/7

INTAR, New York's most acclaimed Latino theatre company, will celebrate its 46th anniversary with a special Gala at the Manhattan Penthouse (80 5th Avenue at 14th Street) on Tuesday evening, February 7th. In addition to celebrating INTAR's vital contribution to the arts internationally, the Gala will feature special awards to Academy Award-nominated screenwriter/playwright Jose Rivera and US Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey. This special event will be hosted by Maria Canals-Barerra, with cuisine from Chef Marisel Presilla.

In addition to honorees Jose Rivera and US Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, guests expected to attend include Jake T. Austin ("Wizards of Waverly Place"), Dayana Mendoza (Miss Venezuela 2007 & Miss Universe 2008 and set to appear on the 2012 season of "The Celebrity Apprentice" along with Cheryl Tiegs, George Takei, Clay Aiken, and Debbie Gibson), chef/author/editor James Oseland (Bravo's "Top Chef Masters"), Anna Maria Perez de Tagle (Godspell, "Camp Rock"), as well as ALMA Award-Winner Maria Canals-Barerra ("Wizards of Waverly Place,") who is hosting and Celebrity Chef Maricel Presilla who is providing the cuisine.

INTAR, one of the United States' longest running Latino theaters producing in English, works to nurture the professional development of Latino theater artists; produce bold, innovative, artistically significant plays that reflect diverse perspectives; make accessible the diversity inherent in America's cultural heritage. Through an integrated program of workshops, productions of works in progress, and mainstage productions, INTAR continues to raise standards of theater arts. INTAR brings to the public vital and energetic voices of both promising and accomplished Latino theater professionals, replacing stereotypes while giving expression to the diversity and depth of today's Latino-American community. Founded in 1966 to provide professional opportunities for Hispanic theatre artists, INTAR Theatre is the oldest Latino theatre company in the USA producing in English. Since its founding, INTAR has commissioned, developed and produced the works of award-winning playwrights, composers and choreographers such as María Irene Fornés, Gabriel García Marquez, Graciela Daniele, José Rivera, Eduardo Machado, Mario Vargas Llosa, Luis Santeiro, Tito Puente, Carmen Rivera, and Culture Clash, among others. The company has produced more than 150 world premieres and 50 American premieres of new works in English by Latino playwrights, and INTAR has been the leading proponent of bringing American Latino playwrights' work to the mainstream. INTAR productions and artists have garnered 6 Obie Awards, 3 AT&T On Stage Awards, 1 Tony Award nomination, 7 Princess Grace Awards, 5 A.C.E. (Association of Spanish Language Critics) Awards, and 2 HOLA Awards, among others.

Event Sponsors include Rothstein Kass, AT&T, Tito's Vodka, The Manhattan Penthouse, Cucharamama, and Hotel Americano.

For more information, or to support INTAR, please visit their website, www.intartheatre.org