Karen Ziemba, Jose Llana, Jenna Ushkowitz and More Join Dramatists Guild Fund's 2015 Gala

The Dramatists Guild Fund will welcome a slew of stars for their 2015 Gala next week! As previously announced, actor, musician and Emmy-nominated composer, Darren Criss will host and perform at DGF's annual gala GREAT WRITERS THANK THEIR LUCKY STARS at Gotham Hall (1356 Broadway at 36th Street) on October 26 (cocktail reception at 6:30pm, dinner and celebration at 7:30pm).

Directed by Leigh Silverman (Violet, The Wild Party, Chinglish) with Music Direction by Charlie Rosen, the event features award-winning playwrights, lyricists and composers introducing the stars who brought their work to life on stage, including Stephen Schwartz, Kirsten Childs, Gretchen Cryer & Nancy Ford, Sheldon Harnick, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, Laurence O'Keefe & Nell Benjamin, Steven Sater and Benjamin Scheuer.

Joining the evening's lineup will be Karen Ziemba, performing "Old Friend" from GETTING MY ACT TOGETHER AND TAKING IT ON THE ROAD, in a tribute to DGF President Emeritus Gretchen Cryer, and SPRING AWAKENING's Steven Sater will be honored by a performance including Christy Altomare, Gerard Canonico, Blake Daniel, Robert Hager, Brian Charles Johnson, Jose Llana, Frances Mercanti-Anthony, Ben Moss, Eryn Murman, Matt Shingledecker, Phoebe Strole, Jenna Ushkowitz and Remy Zaken.

Other stars set to perform include Kristin Chenoweth, Mo Rocca, Danny Burstein, Ben Platt, Alysha Umphress, Rashidra Scott, Felicia Finley Ann Harada, Phoebe Strole and Blake Daniel.

President Andrew Lippa and Executive Director Rachel Routh have also announced that DGF Board members Roe Green & Barbara Olcott have graciously pledged to match up to $100,000 of donations to support DGF's growing programs for writers at all stages of their careers. To make a tax deductible donation to the Dramatists Guild Fund, visit dgfund.org/donate.

The Gala is the most critical fundraising event for the Dramatists Guild Fund, now celebrating 53 years of service to writers across the country through educational programs, writing development opportunities, and emergency aid to dramatists in need. This very special evening pays tribute to legendary writers and recognizes their significant contributions to American theater.

The online auction is live now and features Broadway house seats and backstage tours, handwritten music from Stephen Sondheim and Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, weekend getaways, and more at www.dgfthanks.com.

Performance only tickets are currently on sale through TodayTix, the official ticketing sponsor of the Gala, at www.todaytix.com. To purchase tickets for the full event, visit dgfund.org/gala.

In addition, DGF honors two patrons of the arts and philanthropists Lynne Greene, Group President, The Estée Lauder Companies, Inc., and Louise Camuto, Chief Creative Officer of Camuto Group. Great Writers Thank Their Lucky Stars also pays a special tribute to composer, lyricist, performer, and President Emeritus of the Dramatists Guild Fund, Gretchen Cryer, for her 10 years of service to dramatists across the country.

The Dramatists Guild Fund is the public charity arm of the Dramatists Guild of America. Its mission is to aid and nurture writers for the theater; to fund non-profit theaters producing contemporary American works; and to heighten awareness, appreciation, and support of theater across the country. Each year, DGF awards grants to non-profit theatrical organizations across the country that produce works by American writers, provides emergency aid to writers facing illness or other unforeseen circumstances, and supports numerous educational programs and writing development opportunities for dramatists. For more information visit www.dgfund.org.

Photo Credit: Kevin Yatarola