SCHOOL OF ROCK's Alex Brightman to Host 2016 BROADWAY SALUTES in Shubert Alley

The Broadway League and The Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds (COBUG) have announced that the eighth annual Broadway Salutes event will take place on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 in Shubert Alley (between Broadway and 8th Avenue and 44th and 45th Streets). The event will begin at 3:30 p.m. with red carpet arrivals, and the public ceremony begins at 4:00 p.m.

The ceremony will be hosted by School of Rock The Musical's 2016 Tony Award nominee Alex Brightman. Directed by Marc Bruni, Broadway Salutes will include special guest performers including Leslie Kritzer and Rashidra Scott. The Musical Director is Joel Waggoner. Also in attendance will be Julie Menin, Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment.

In this industry-wide public celebration, theatre professionals will receive special recognition for having worked 25, 35 and 50+ years on Broadway for their valuable contributions to the business. Broadway Salutes honors actors, agents, attorneys, box office treasurers, casting directors, choreographers, composers, designers, directors, dressers, managers, musicians, orchestrators, producers, publicists, stagehands, stage managers, stylists, theatre owners, ticket sellers, ushers, writers, and many more theatre professionals who have dedicated their careers to the success of Broadway.

"Broadway is one of the greatest tourist destinations in New York, and it takes a collaboration of many talented people to put on a show! Broadway Salutes brings the community together to acknowledge the hundreds who work behind the scenes and onstage, to recognize our colleagues for their many years of service to the theatre industry and whose contributions provide countless hours of culture and entertainment for New Yorkers and visitors," said Robert E. Wankel (The Broadway League) and Tony DePaulo (COBUG). "On this day, the artists as well as the crafts people and technicians, artist representatives and a myriad of others who are never seen by the audience will be honored for their remarkable talent. The dedication of these hard working individuals supports the industry that brings a significant source of revenue to our city annually. Broadway contributes nearly $12.6 billion to the economy of New York City on top of ticket sales and supports 89,000 local jobs. Broadway Salutes enables us to thank those whose tremendous talent and tireless work creates the extraordinary razzle dazzle experience that is Broadway."

"There's only one Broadway in the world and we are fortunate that so many hard working New Yorkers are able to have flourishing and life-long careers in this industry," said Julie Menin, Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment. "The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment is proud to join the Broadway League and The Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds to honor individuals who have long exceled in their professions by dedicating their time, skill, and energy to the Broadway community, and to all theatregoers who are witness to the premiere theatrical experience in the world."

The Clear Channel Spectacolor electronic billboard located at Broadway and 47th street will scroll the names of the honorees during the afternoon and the electronic zipper in Shubert Alley will scroll the names during the ceremony.

The Broadway Salutes committee is comprised of: Tony DePaulo (IATSE), Nina Lannan (General Manager), Laura Penn (SDC), HAl Goldberg (Jujamcyn), Paige Price (AEA), Danielle Saks (General Manager) and Chris Brockmeyer (Broadway League).

Connie Wilkin and Jennifer O'Connor, of Foresight Events, are the production team.

RSVP@BroadwaySalutes.com and for more information, go to www.broadwaysalutes.com.

The members of the COALITION OF BROADWAY UNIONS AND GUILDS (COBUG) have labor contracts or work for or with the Broadway League. COBUG was established to strengthen the position of Unions and Guilds within the industry, to participate in decision making that affects Broadway and the art and craft of theatre at large, and to educate the broader community about the collective role Coalition members play in keeping our industry vibrant and healthy.

THE BROADWAY LEAGUE (Charlotte St. Martin, President), founded in 1930, is the national trade association for the Broadway industry. The League's 700-plus members include theatre owners and operators, producers, presenters, and general managers who present in nearly 200 markets in North America. Each year, League members bring Broadway to nearly 30 million people in New York and on tour across the U.S. and Canada. The Broadway League has recently added a new category for International membership to collaborate with professionals from around the world who produce and present Broadway quality theatre. The Broadway League annually co-presents the Antoinette Perry "Tony" Awards, one of the most coveted awards in the entertainment industry.

Key League programs and resources include: Kids' Night on Broadway, The National High School Musical Theatre Awards (The Jimmys), Stars in the Alley, Internet Broadway Database (ibdb.com), Broadway.org, SpotlightonBroadway.com, Commercial Theatre Institute (with Theatre Development Fund), as well as numerous conferences and forums for our members. TheatreAccessNYC (co-produced with TDF) is the one-stop website of accessible Broadway performances for theatregoers with disabilities. Broadway.org is the League's official on-line headquarters for Broadway in NYC, on tour, and internationally. For more information visit BroadwayLeague.com, or follow The Broadway League on Twitter @TheBwayLeague and on Facebook at Facebook.com/BroadwayLeague. Download the free Broadway.org and IBDB mobile apps from the iTunes App Store or Google Play.

Broadway theatres are filled with an exciting array of new and classic musicals and plays, providing the perfect experience for every audience. Great seats are available at every price point and are easy to buy online, by phone, or in person at theatre box offices. It's always the perfect time to see a show. Broadway performs every day of the week at multiple curtain times to accommodate every schedule.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos