The Drama League's Centennial Charity Auction Launches Today

The Drama League's Centennial Charity Auction has launched at www.biddingforgood.com/thedramaleague, featuring over fifty once-in-a-lifetime prize packages. The impressive offerings include celebrity experiences with Jonathan Groff (Hamilton), Billy Porter (Shuffle Along), Laurie Metcalf (Misery), Lea Salonga (Allegiance), Nina Arianda (Fool for Love), Danny Burstein (Fiddler on the Roof), Linda Lavin (Our Mother's Brief Affair), Susan Graham (The Metropolitan Opera's Die Fledermaus), Sierra Boggess (School of Rock) and more; Broadway opening night tickets and the VIP after-party for David Mamet's China Doll, starring Al Pacino; a once-in-a-century custom jewelry piece made with 100 diamonds by James Martin Ltd.; a trip to the premiere of Marvel Studios' Captain America: Civil War in Los Angeles; luxury vacations to Morocco, London, Tuscany, Turks and Caicos, Los Angeles and more. Highlights include:

· A CENTURY OF DIAMONDS BY JAMES MARTIN

In celebration of The Drama League's 100th Anniversary, renowned private jeweler James Martin will create, for one lucky winner, a custom piece of jewelry crafted from 100 diamonds...one for every year of The Drama League's history! Totaling ten carats, the piece will be a unique, one-of-a-kind piece designed in consultation with Mr. Martin himself.

· VIP LUXURY FOR FOUR AT PARROT CAY RESORT IN TURKS AND CAICOS

Known as a premiere destination for Hollywood's elite, the winner will enjoy five nights for four people in a two-bedroom beach house at the luxurious, award-winning Parrot Cay Resort, on its own private island in Turks and Caicos: 1,000 unspoiled acres, mile-long beach, first-class Delta Air Lines airfare, and a personal butler!

· BACKSTAGE MEET-AND-GREET WITH LAURIE METCALF AT "MISERY"

See Emmy Award Winner Laurie Metcalf in Broadway's hit thriller Misery- and afterward, go backstage to chat with Laurie in person!

· A FANTASY DREAM WEEK IN MOROCCO

A Mediterranean adventure! Deluxe flights and seven days/six nights in two cities, beginning at Dar Ahlam in Ouarzazate, and ending in Marrakech at the Royal Monsour Hotel (built by the King of Morocco himself). A private chauffeur courtesy of Boutique Souk, lunch at Richard Branson's Kasbah Tamadot, a private dinner at Amanjena on the Mediterranean coast, and much more. An unforgettable trip of a lifetime!

· HOLLYWOOD WEEKEND AND PREMIERE OF "CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR"

Live like Hollywood insiders during this one-of-a-kind VIP weekend in L.A. You and a guest will enjoy Delta One round-trip flights to Los Angeles, where you'll luxuriate in a weekend stay at the famed Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and attend the premiere of Marvel Studios' latest blockbuster, Captain America: Civil War starring Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Paul Rudd, and Jeremy Renner.

• BACKSTAGE MEET-AND-GREET WITH STEPHEN COLBERT AND VIP TICKETS TO "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT"

You loved him on The Colbert Report, and now you'll get to see the one, the only, Stephen Colbert in his new gig as host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Not only will you receive 2 VIP Tickets to a taping of the show, you'll be able to meet Stephen backstage afterwards! You won't want to miss out on this amazing opportunity.

Visit www.biddingforgood.com/thedramaleague to view additional items and place your bids.

The auction will conclude at The Drama League's Centennial Gala, which will honor Bernadette Peters on Monday, November 2, 2015 at the historic Plaza Hotel (768 Fifth Avenue, New York City). The black-tie gala, featuring dozens of stars from Hollywood and Broadway, is a once-in-a-century evening of celebration drawn from Ms. Peters' career. Among the dozens of performers scheduled to appear are Michael Douglas, Gloria Estefan, Norm Lewis, Joel Grey, Tom Wopat, Marin Mazzie, Chip Zien, Leanne Cope, the original and revival casts of Dames At Sea, among others (subject to change; to see daily updates to the list of performers, visit dramaleague.org/gala).

National Life Group is the proud Centennial Season Sponsor of The Drama League, and will host a VIP pre-event Champagne Toast for Ms. Peters at The Plaza.

The Drama League Centennial Gala Sponsors include Delta Air Lines, the Official Airline of The Drama League; M.A.C. Cosmetics, the Official Makeup Partner of The Drama League; Starbright Floral Design, the Official Florist of The Drama League; and The Plaza.

The Centennial Gala Chairpersons are Anna May Feige and Stan Ponte, with Vice-Chairs Rebecca A. Gillan, Mary Jain, Julie and Rich Meister, Kari Nettles, Joseph and Lauren Pizza, Elaine C. and W. Weldon Wilson, and Nadine Wong. The Centennial Gala Committee includes Bonnie Comley and Stewart F. Lane, Leslie Feldman, John Gore/Key Brand Entertainment, Amy Eller, Ellen Fox, Kathy Henderson, Jano Herbosch, Paula Kaminsky Davis, and Ellie and James Johnson.

The Drama League Centennial Gala will raise funds to support the educational training programs of The Drama League Directors Project. The award-winning initiative, which began in 1982 and whose alumni now number over 300, has been instrumental in launching the careers of Tony Award winners Sam Gold (Fun Home), Diane Paulus (Finding Neverland), Pam MacKinnon (China Doll), Michael Mayer (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), and John Rando (On The Town); Tony Award nominees Mark Brokaw (Cinderella), Moritz von Steulpnagel (Hand to God) and Alex Timbers (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson); West Hyler (the upcoming Broadway production Cirque du Soleil: Paramour); and OBIE and Emmy winners Rachel Chavkin, Lear deBessonet, R.J. Cutler, and Anne Kaufmann, to name a few. 'Drama League Directors' have been honored with Tony, Emmy, Grammy, Obie, Peabody, Drama Desk, GLAAD, Drama League, New York Drama Critics Circle, Outer Critics, Evening Standard, Lucille Lortel, Bessie, Princess Grace, Garland, Drama-Logue, Barrymore, Helen Hayes, Elliot Norton, and Joseph Jefferson Awards, and have directed films and plays that received Academy Award nominations and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

The Drama League of New York, since 1916, has been at the forefront of the American Theatre community, providing talent, audiences, and prosperous support. It is one of the nation's oldest continuously-operating, not-for-profit arts advocacy and education organizations. Through its programs, initiatives and events, The Drama League serves over 3,000 artists and 15,000 audience members each season with over 150 events and programs. More information can be found at www.dramaleague.org.

National Life Group, the Centennial Season Sponsor of The Drama League, doesn't make widgets or cars or computers. We make promises. Our goal, since the chartering of National Life Insurance Company in 1848, has been to work together to create a better financial future for each and every customer through innovative financial solutions and then to deliver on those commitments 10, 20, or 50 years down the road. This commitment is evident in our values which are Do good. Be good. Make good. National Life Group is a trade name of National Life Insurance Company, Montpelier, VT, Life Insurance Company of the Southwest (LSW), Addison, TX and their affiliates. Each company of National Life Group is solely responsible for its own financial condition and contractual obligations. LSW is not an authorized insurer in New York and does not conduct insurance business in New York.