Powerhouse Lineup Announced for 'Star Chats: Broadway Leading Ladies'

'Star Chats: Broadway Leading Ladies' has announced a powerhouse lineup for its upcoming conversation event being held at the Times Centre on September 30.

The invited actresses are Tony Award winners Laura Benanti, Sutton Foster, Beth Leavel, Bebe Neuwirth and Alice Ripley.

As part of Back2Broadway month, the Broadway League has been hosting various free events throughout the month of September celebrating Broadway and to highlight the new theatre season. Amongst the events of the past few weeks have been broadcasts of Sirius|XM Radio 'Live on Broadway' lunchtime concerts hosted by Seth Rudetsky; Broadway theatre tours; post-show talkbacks; Kids Night on Broadway, and showtune karaoke and dance instruction in Times Square.

'Star Chats' will be taped in front of a live audience with the footage to be used in the opening program of American Theatre Wing's 31st season of 'Working in the Theatre'.

The hour-long discussion will be moderated by Howard Sherman of the American Theatre Wing.

Sutton Foster is a singer and dancer, currently seen on Broadway's production of 'Shrek the Musical'. She has been nominated for four Tony Awards, winning one for her performance as Millie Dillmount in 'Thoroughly Modern Millie.' For her role as Princess Fiona in 'Shrek', Foster won her second Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical and was nominated for her fourth Tony Award, the Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance, and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical.

Alice Ripley is a Tony Award winning actress, singer and songwriter. Ripley made her Broadway debut in The Who's Tommy in 1993. Amongs other Broadway credits are, 'Sunset Boulevard' (Betty Schaefer), 'Les Miserables' (Fantine), 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' (Janet). Ripley is currently starring as Diana in Broadway's production of 'Next to Normal' for which she has received a Drama Desk Award nomination, a Helen Hayes Award, and most recently, the 2009 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical.

Bebe Neuwirth is an actress, singer and dancer. She is probably best known for her TV portrayal of Dr. Lilith Sternin, Dr. Frasier Crane's wife and ex-wife, both on the TV sitcom 'Cheers' and in its spin-off 'Frasier.' Neuwirth made her Broadway debut in the role of Sheila in 'A Chorus Line' in 1980. She has been featured in revivals of 'Little Me' (1982), 'Sweet Charity' (1986), for which she received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical, and Damn Yankees (1994). She received a Tony Award and Drama Desk Award as Best Lead Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Velma in 'Chicago.'

The Broadway League, founded in 1930, is the national trade association for the Broadway industry. The League's 600-plus members include theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters, and general managers in over 240 North American cities, as well as suppliers of goods and services to the theatre industry. Each year, League members bring Broadway to nearly 30 million people in New York and on tour across the U.S. and Canada. Visit www.BroadwayLeague.com. For information about shows in other cities across the U.S. and Canada, visit www.TouringBroadway.com.

'Star Chats' will commence at 5:30 on September 30. The Times Center is located at 242 West 41st Street.

For more information visit www.ILoveNYTheater.com.