Urban Stages to Honor Sondra Gilman and Celso Gonzalez-Falla, 5/21

Urban Stages, Frances Hill (Artistic Director) and the Board of Directors, to host the 28th annual Urban Stages benefit in the Central Park Boathouse on Monday, May 21st, 6:30 to 11PM, with celebrated performer KT Sullivan as the fabulous Master of Ceremonies.

This year, Urban Stages will honor Sondra Gilman and Celso Gonzalez-Falla for their work in promoting and supporting the American Musical by giving generous grants to lyricists, composers and non-profit theatres to foster new works. Also being honored are the following composers, lyricists and writers of musicals: Kirsten Childs, Douglas Cohen, Michael John LaChiusa, Polly Pen, Joe Iconis, Kent Gash and Walter Marks.

The husband and wife team of Sondra Gilman and Celso Gonzalez-Falla created the Gilman & Gonzalez-Falla Theatre Foundation which supports persons and organizations developing and producing American musical theatre. Their generosity has contributed to the works of Lincoln Center Theatre, National Alliance of Musical Theatres, the Vineyard, New York Theatre Workshop, Playwrights Horizons, to name a few. Their generosity has given grants to cast albums of “Anything Goes,” “Sarafina” and others. They are also the grantor of the Musical Theatre Award, created to support and encourage lyricists, book-writers, and composers who are involved in the creation of American Musical theatre.

For 28 years Urban Stages has been an Off Broadway fixture in New York City where it has been producing and developing award winning new plays and musicals. Their 2010 musical “Langston in Harlem” (book by Langston Hughes, Walter Marks and Kent Gash – music by Walter Marks) received a Callaway award for choreography and the Audelco award for best musical of 2010 among other awards and nominations. Urban Stages produced the world premiere of award winning composer and lyricist Joe Iconis’ “ReWrite: A Musical Comedy Triple Feature," which received excellent reviews.

Set in the beautiful setting of the lake in Central Park with lovely spring flowers, the benefit will start with cocktails and boat rides at 6:30PM including music by Bob Hardwick Sound for dancing. There will be a succulent dinner by Chef Antony E. Walton. Courtney Booth from Sotheby’s will be the auctioneer for the following exciting items: tickets, travel and vacation houses. The celebrated cabaret artist and Broadway star KT Sullivan will be the master of ceremonies. Ms. Sullivan has performed at Urban Stages, along with her national and international tours. She is currently Chairman of the Mabel Mercer Foundation.