Taylor Louderman, Rebecca Luker, Mary Testa and More to Celebrate Women Making Musicals at Prospect's 2015 Gala

Prospect Theater Company is pleased to announce additional cast members for its 2015 annual gala, a Concert Evening Celebrating Women Making Musicals. This special one-night-only event will be held at The Times Center on Saturday, May 16 with an 8pm concert performance featuring Broadway and Prospect stars. The evening's program includes a diverse array of songs written or co-written by women, including encores of work from Prospect productions. Proceeds from the evening will benefit Prospect's ongoing mission to develop and produce new musical theater works by emerging artists.

Writers whose work will be featured include Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Deborah Abramson and Amanda Yesnowitz, Susan Birkenhead and Jeanine Tesori, Michele Brourman and Sheilah Rae, Gretchen Cryer and Nancy Ford, Susan DiLallo and Stephen Weiner, Carol Hall, Micki Grant, Amanda Green and Trey Anastasio, Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich, Winnie Holzman and David Evans, Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, Marisa Michelson, Mary Rodgers and Stephen Sondheim. Also featured will be a Dorothy Fields tribute arranged by jazz composer Lisa DeSpain. The evening is directed by Wendy Seyb (MURDER FOR TWO, THE PEE WEE HERMAN SHOW), with music direction by Julianne Merrill.

Performers currently scheduled to appear include the previously announced three-time Tony Award nominee Rebecca Luker (LITTLE DANCER, THE MUSIC MAN), Tony Award nominee Christiane Noll (RAGTIME), Drama Desk Award winner and two-time Tony Award nominee Mary Testa (QUEEN OF THE MIST, ON THE TOWN), Drama Desk Award Winner Kenita R. Miller (Prospect's WORKING), and Betsy Wolfe (THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD).

Artists joining the evening include Whitney Bashor (BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY), Allison Case (HANDS ON A HARD BODY), Derek Klena (BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY), Taylor Louderman (NBC's PETER PAN, BRING IT ON), Sally Mayes (CLOSER THAN EVER, URBAN COWBOY), Michael Winther (SONGS FROM AN UNMADE BED), and Jared Zirilli (PRETTY FILTHY).

Additionally, the evening will feature an incredible line-up of Prospect alumni and Broadway friends including Piper Goodeve (THE UNDERCLASSMAN) and Jessica Grové (ILLYRIA, THE UNDERCLASSMAN), Troy Burton (TAMAR OF THE RIVER), Sarah Corey (ILLYRIA), Ian Fairlee (THE UNDERCLASSMAN), Jennifer Fouché (PORTRAITS), Danyel Fulton (JASPER IN DEADLAND), Carol Linnea Johnson (I MARRIED WYATT EARP), Catherine LeFrere (UNLOCK'D, ONCE UPON A TIME IN NEW JERSEY), Carolyn Mignini (I MARRIED WYATT EARP), Mary Kate Morrissey (TAMAR OF THE RIVER), Whitney Winfield (THE UNDERCLASSMAN) and Anita Vasan (EVERGREEN). Stage management is by Becky Fleming and Kat West.

Prospect's 2015 Gala Committee includes: Jane Abramson, Pat Addiss, Roger Berlind, Carol Hall & Leonard Majzlin, The Susan Gurman Agency, Isobel Robins Konecky, Elizabeth Lucas, Michelle and Glen McGorty, James Miller, Suzanne & Thorley Mills, Jr., Christine O'Grady, Eva Price, Stephen Schwartz, and Harriet Slaughter.

Prospect's 2015 Gala marks the launch of a concert series for new musical theater work which the company will present at The Times Center (www.TheTimesCenter.com) throughout 2015. The Times Center is located at 242 West 41st Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues, in the heart of NYC's Times Square District. The venue features a 378-seat auditorium with state-of-the-art lighting, sound, and video capability, and a Steinway Grand Piano.

Tickets to the concert portion of the evening (performance begins at 8pm) are $50 - $75, and may be obtained through online purchase at www.ProspectTheater.org or by calling 212-352-3101. Tickets may also be purchased at the door. A portion of the cost of each ticket is tax-deductible. Tickets which include special access to the pre-show VIP reception at The Times Center range from $125 - $500.

Prospect Theater Company was founded in 1998, and is one of America's leading producers of new musical theater. The company was honored to receive a 2013 National Theatre Company Grant from the American Theatre Wing. Since 2000, the company has fully produced more than 30 premiere musicals in New York City, in addition to new plays and numerous re-inventions of classic works. Year-round, Prospect supports developmental opportunities for emerging musical theater writers, especially through our annual musical theater lab. Notable productions include: the Drama Desk Award-winning Working (2012), Jasper in Deadland (2014), the Drama-Desk nominated Tamar of the River (2013), Unlock'd (2013), Iron Curtain (2006, 2011), Myths and Hymns (2012), With Glee (2010), The Blue Flower (2008), Golden Boy of the Blue Ridge (2009), The Hidden Sky (2010), Illyria (2002, 2008), and the Drama-Desk nominated The Pursuit of Persephone (2005).