Photo Flash: Disney Theatricals and The Actor's Fund Partner for WOMEN'S DAY ON BROADWAY

Disney Theatrical Productions and Frozen have partnered with The Actors Fund to celebrate International Women's Day with two special events: "Women's Day on Broadway: Celebrating Stories By, For & About Women," a free symposium that took place this week at The St. James Theatre and a special performance of Frozen to benefit The Actors Fund and its Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative.

The events highlight the importance of a continued investment in the encouragement and mentorship of women that is crucial to establishing and maintaining gender equality in the Broadway community.

Gayle King, co-host of CBS This Morning, opened the day as moderator of the first panel, Spotlighting Marquee Women. This conversation highlighted perspectives from the creative forces behind many of this season's Broadway shows.

The second panel of the day was Creating Leading Ladies, led by Whoopi Goldberg, most recently on Broadway as a producer of the musical Sister Act. This panel explored iconic female roles on the page and on the stage.

Emerging from the Wings served as the backbone for dialogue in the third panel moderated by Juju Chang, anchor of ABC's Nightline, in which panelists discussed overcoming underrepresentation of women on and off stage.

Finally, Meredith Vieira, former co-host of NBC's Today show, wrapped-up the conversations with a focus on Pioneering a New (Broad)way, in which powerful leaders will discuss forging a new path for women.

Panelists for the day's events included Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Music & Lyrics, Frozen), Nell Benjamin (Lyricist, Mean Girls), Hillary Blanken (Technical Supervisor, Juniper Street Productions), Nancy Coyne (Chairman, Serino/Coyne), Tina Fey (Book writer, Mean Girls), Sonia Friedman (Producer, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,Farinelli and the King, Mean Girls, Travesties), Renée Elise Goldsberry (Hamilton, The Color Purple), Mandy Hackett (Associate Artistic Director, The Public Theater), Natasha Katz (Lighting Designer, Frozen), Tina Landau (Director,SpongeBob SquarePants), Marsha Norman (Book writer, The Color Purple), Diane Paulus (Artistic Director, American Repertory Theater), Chita Rivera (Broadway Legend), Daryl Roth (Producer, Kinky Boots, Indecent), Lea Salonga (Once on This Island, Miss Saigon), and Jeanine Tesori (Composer, Fun Home).

The celebration continues on Wednesday, March 14th with a special performance of Frozen at 8pm that will benefit The Actors Fund and its Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at www.actorsfund.org/Frozen.

Founded by Tony Award® winner and cancer survivor Phyllis Newman, the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative offers women in entertainment and performing arts across the country a safe place to go to address serious medical concerns and get confidential and compassionate help. The program provides access to an extensive support network that includes health care, diagnostic, preventive, and mental health services, substance abuse treatment and emergency financial assistance.

Photo credit: Monica Simoes

Disney Theatricals and The Actor's Fund Partner for WOMEN'S DAY ON BROADWAY

Gayle King

Gayle King, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Nell Benjamin, Tina Fey, Sonia Friedman, Tina Landau

Gayle King, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Nell Benjamin, Tina Fey, Sonia Friedman, Tina Landau

Chita Rivera, Lea Salonga

Chita Rivera, Lea Salonga, Sherie Rene Scott

Whoopi Goldberg, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Katrina Lenk, Chita Rivera, Lea Salonga, Sherie Rene Scott

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg, Renee Elise Goldsberry

Juju Chang, Hillary Blanken, Natasha Katz

Juju Chang, Hillary Blanken, Natasha Katz, Baayork Lee

Juju Chang, Hillary Blanken, Natasha Katz, Baayork Lee

Meredith Vieira

Diane Paulus, Daryl Roth, Jeanine Tesori

Nancy Coyne, Mandy Hackett, Diane Paulus, Daryl Roth, Jeanine Tesori

Nancy Coyne, Mandy Hackett

Sonia Friedman, Tina Landau

Barbara Davis

Marsha Norman