Nathan Lane, Barbara Cook, Donna Murphy Set for TheatreWorks Gala Tonight

Theatreworks USA celebrates its 50th Anniversary tonight at NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square North).

"Theatreworks USA is one of the few places that will bet on young talent," said Robert Lopez, who is donating his personal house seat locations for this 50th Anniversary fundraising initiative. "Years ago, they took a chance on me, helped me, and gave me a career. And now, I'm bringing my kids to Theatreworks USA shows! We are blessed to be a part of the Theatreworks USA family."

Hosted by Charles Busch and Julie Halston, and co-chaired by Sheldon Harnick (Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner), Julie Halpin Anderson (Theatreworks USA Board Chair) and Tony Phelan ("Grey's Anatomy" Executive Producer), doors open at 5:30 p.m. in advance of a 6 p.m. performance and a 7:30 p.m. dinner.

The event will feature special guest presenter Nathan Lane and special performances by Tony Award winners Barbara Cook and Donna Murphy.

Theatreworks USA's 50th Anniversary Celebration will also feature performances from Ryan Duncan, Mary Faber, the cast of Forever Plaid, Jared Gertner, Ann Harada, Sheldon Harnick, Rose Hemingway, Gwen Hollander, Jayne Houdyshell, Joe Iconis, Jamie LaVerdiere, Luba Mason, Ian Niederhoffer, Brad Oscar and Nic Rouleau.

The 50th Anniversary Celebration gala will honor five individuals whose longtime professional contributions to Theatreworks USA have helped to shape the organization's impressive five-decades-long history of producing top-quality professional theatre for young audiences.

Honorees include four-time Tony Award-winning director Jerry Zaks; George Forbes, Executive Director of the Lucille Lortel Foundation and President of the Off-Broadway Theatre League; Betty Jacobs, longtime Theatreworks USA Board and Founding Circle Member; Theatreworks USA Marketing Director Barbara Sandek; and NYC Department of Youth & Community Development Comissioner Jeanne Mullgrav.

The performance portion of the evening will also include a live auction by C.K Swett, presentation of the Lee Salk "Good Works" Awards, and a special tribute to Theatreworks USA Co-Founders Jay Harnick and Charles Hull.

All proceeds from the Celebration support the productions and programs of Theatreworks USA, a not-for-profit educational and artistic corporation.

Theatreworks USA is America's largest and most prolific professional not-for-profit theatre for young and family audiences. Since 1961, Theatreworks USA has enlightened, entertained and instructed over 85 million people in 49 states and Canada, now performing for about three million people annually.

Every year, the company tours approximately 16 shows from its ever-growing repertoire of 125 plays and musicals. In addition, Theatreworks USA also has an extensive multi-cultural guest artist roster, including storytellers, puppeteers, poets and magicians.

Theatreworks USA is also one of the most honored theatres of its kind. It is the only children's theatre to receive both a Drama Desk and a Lucille Lortel Award. In addition, Theatreworks USA was the recipient of a 2001 Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Award, and in May 2000, The Actors Fund of America bestowed its Medal of Honor upon its founders, Jay Harnick and Charles Hull.

The Jack H. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts is the premier venue for the presentation of cultural and performing arts events for New York University and lower Manhattan. Led by executive producer Jay Oliva (President Emeritus, NYU) and senior director Michael Harrington, the programs of the Skirball Center reflect NYU's mission as an international center of scholarship, defined by excellence and innovation and shaped by an intellectually rich and diverse environment. A vital aspect of the Center's mission is to build young adult audiences for the future of live performance. www.nyuskirball.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos