Hargitay, Monk, Stamos Etc. Join Cabaret Gourmet, 4/16

Peter Dinklage, Mariska Hargitay, Grace Hightower, Debra Monk and John Stamos will appear as special guests at the Play Company's fourth annual "Cabaret Gourmet" gala on Monday, April 16 at The Angel Orensanz Foundation.  A theatrical celebration of food, glorious food, "Cabaret Gourmet" is a tribute to the shared "food-for-the-soul" spirit of the culinary and theater arts.  The event will feature delicacies from New York City's top chefs and restaurants, distinctive wines and specialty cocktails, silent and live auctions, and performances by stars of stage and screen. 

Throughout the evening, enjoy savory and sweet samplings, festive cocktails and classic wines. There will be songs, readings and more from performers including Manoel Felciano (Sweeney Todd – Tony nomination), Malcolm Gets (Amour – Tony nomination), Cheyenne Jackson (All Shook Up, Aida), actress/writer Madhur Jaffrey (most recently on Broadway: Bombay Dreams), Marc Kudisch (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Assassins – Tony nominations, The Apple Tree), Mary Testa (42nd Street – Tony nomination, On The Town) and culinary stars from some of New York's finest restaurants: Chef Michael Ayoub (Cronkite Pizzeria and Wine Bar), Chef David DeCarlo (Angus McIndoe), Marian Golea (Acasa), Chef Alex Guarnaschelli (Butter), Chef Michael Hu (Hana Pastries), Chef Jehangir Mehta (Graffiti Food and Wine), Chef Nancy Olson (Gramercy Tavern), Chef Cedric Tovar (Peacock Alley).

These distinguished actors, writers and chefs will serve up an eclectic array of food-inspired acts directed by Ted Sperling (The Light in the Piazza – Tony Award, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Full Monty).

The evening will feature silent and live auctions with prizes such as hard-to-get tickets to Broadway's hottest shows, exclusive dining & spa packages, film and theater memorabilia, celebrity dinners and more.  Proceeds will benefit The Play Company's artistic programs.

The Play Company (Kate Loewald–Founding Producer / Lauren Weigel–Managing Producer), a not-for-profit Off-Broadway company, is an international theater for new writing developing and producing adventurous new plays from the U.S. and around the world.

"Cabaret Gourmet" is set for Monday, April 16 from 7:00–9:30 PM at The Angel Orensanz Foundation (172 Norfolk Street between Houston & Stanton).  Tickets: $99; $200; $2,500 - $5,000 for VIP tables (10 pp).  For reservations call Leslie Caiola at The Play Company at (212) 398-2977 or email lcaiola@playco.org.  For more info, visit www.Playco.org.

Photo of Mariska Hargitay by Retna Ltd.