Stephen Sondheim To Receive SAGE Lifetime Achievement Award 4/14

SAGE has announced that it will present the legend himself, Stephen Sondheim, with their first ever "Lifetime Achievement in Theatre" Award during a pre-show cocktail reception at Brasserie Cognac Restaurant at 6 pm, followed by an 8 pm performance of Sondheim on Sondheim at Studio 54.

SAGE (now Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders) is the world's oldest and largest non-profit agency addressing the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender elders. SAGE works with LGBT elders to address and overcome the challenges of discrimination in senior service settings, while also being an essential component in the creation of informal caregiving support, and development of new "family" networks. SAGE's programs include: the nation's first Friendly Visiting program for frail and homebound LGBT seniors, the country's first support group for LGBT seniors with HIV, the nation's first program dedicated to caregiving services for LGBT seniors, the nation's first LGBT Senior Drop-In Center, the creation of the first national conferences devoted to LGBT aging concerns, the only RoBert Wood Johnson Foundation "Faith in Action" grantee (of more than 2,000 nationwide) specifically targeting LGBT older people for supportive services. SAGE is the recipient of a three-year, $900,000 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Administration on Aging to create the nation's only national resource center on LGBT aging. Today, there are a growing number of retirement communities, senior housing and other high-end housing options targeting LGBT seniors. But for hundreds of thousands of LGBT seniors who will be aging in place in their own communities, SAGE programs and services provide the link they need to a safe and welcoming community.

For ticket and sponsorship pricing and more information on the SAGE event, visit http://sageusa.org/. The Brasserie Cognac is located at 1740 Broadway at 55th St. in New York City. Studio 54 is located at 254 West 54th St. in New York City. For additional information about tickets and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Nicki Boone 212-741-2247 x 295 or nboone@sageusa.org.

Sondheim brought the world Into The Woods, Company, Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music, Sunday in the Park with George, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, West Side Story and Gypsy (to name a few). By writing songs that reflect the complexity of his characters, he has changed the way we define a great musical. Sondheim is currently represented on Broadway by the Roundabout's Sondheim On Sondheim, an intimate portrait of the famed composer in his own words and music. In the show, audiences get an inside look at Sondheim's personal life and artistic process. An ensemble cast of Broadway's best perform brand-new arrangements of over two dozen Sondheim tunes, ranging from the beloved to the obscure. The show is directed by frequent Sondheim collaborator James Lapine.

Sondheim on Sondheim stars Vanessa Williams, Barbara Cook, Tom Wopat, Leslie Kritzer, Norm Lewis, Euan Morton, Erin Mackey & Matthew Scott. Music & lyrics are by Stephen Sondheim and the production is conceived & directed by James Lapine. The production began previews on March 19th, 2010 and will open officially April 22nd, 2010 at Studio 54 on Broadway (254 West 54th Street). This will be a limited engagement through Sunday, June 13th, 2010.

Sondheim on Sondheim's creative team includes David Loud (Music Direction & Arrangements) and Dan Knechtges (Musical Staging). The design team includes Beowulf Boritt (Sets), Susan Hilferty (Costumes), Ken Billington (Lights), Dan Moses Schreier (Sound) and Peter Flaherty (Projections).

Tickets are available by calling Roundabout Ticket Services at (212)719-1300, online at www.roundabouttheatre.org or at the Studio 54 Box Office (254 West 54th Street). To become a Roundabout subscriber visit www.roundabouttheatre.org or call Roundabout Ticket Services (212)719-1300. Ticket prices range from $36.50-$126.50.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.