Phylicia Rashad Honored at Amas Benefit March 31

Amas Musical Theatre will celebrate its 39th year with a Gala evening on Monday, March 31 featuring a special "Blast from the Past" concert performance of Mama, I Want to Sing, a star-studded concert of the gospel, pop, and rhythm and blues hit musical that began at Amas in the early nineteen eighties.

The Amas Gala will also honor award winning actress Phylicia Rashad and PricewaterhouseCoopers with "The Rosie Award", named for Amas Founder Rosetta LeNoire.

Mama, I Want to Sing is the long-running Off-Broadway musical sensation about the gospel singer who aspires to pop stardom. Mama, I Want to Sing, book and lyrics by Vy Higginson and Ken Wydro, with original music by Rudolph V. Hawkins, Pat Holley, Steven Taylor, and Doris Troy.  This production will be directed by Amas Artist in Residence Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj, with musical direction by David Alan Bunn and choreography by Michael Susko and James Harkness.

It will feature a cast that includes Melba Moore, Ebony Jo-Ann, Chuck Cooper, Ahmaya Knoelle Higginson, Ted Levy, N'Kenge, Chaundra Cameron, Danielle Chambers, Ryan Duncan, Jessica Fields, Carmen Ruby Floyd, Robert H. Fowler, McKenzie Frye, Jene Hernandez, John Eric Parker, Wayne Pretlow, and Christopher Zelno

The evening festivities will include the presentation of the fourth annual Rosetta LeNoire Scholarship, which is given to a deserving college-bound student attending Amas' theatre arts education program, The Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Academy.

The Amas Honorary Benefit Committee is chaired by Eric Krebs with Judith Ann Abrams, Pat Addiss, Billie Allen, Joel and Rhela Aragona, Joe Benincasa, Douglas Benson, Joe Bolduc, The Actors' Fund, Sharleen Cooper Cohen, Ruby Dee, Carmen deLavallade, Micki Grant, Neville Grusd, Geoffrey Holder, Elymra Hull, Marvin Kahan, Willette Klausner, Randall Lane, Victoria Lang, Jeffrey Larsen, Joan Liman, Jack and Barbara LeNoire, Nathan Matthews, Francine Mellors, Charles Mirotznik, Esq., Marion E.D. Peng, The Shubert Organization, Paul and Linda Saccone, Norman Strauss, Kenneth Teaton, Tamara Tunie, Pat Tulchin, Leslie Uggams, Elizabeth Wilson, and the Honorable Charles Rangel.

Amas Musical Theatre has been an award-winning pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since it was founded in 1968 by actress and visionary Rosetta LeNoire.  Amas ("you love" in Latin) is devoted to the creation, development and professional production of new American musicals through the celebration of diversity and minority perspectives, the emergence of new artistic talent, and the training and encouragement of inner-city young people.

Amas Musical Theatre Gala Benefit evening honoring Phylicia Rashad and PricewaterhouseCoopers with concert presentation of Mama, I Want To Sing will be presented Monday, March 31 at New World Stages (located at 340 West 50th Street).

Performance begins at 7 PM followed by cocktails and buffet dinner at Puttanesca(859 Ninth Ave) Ticket prices are $125, $200 and $500.  For additional information and reservations  visit www.amasmusical.org or call (212) 744-1048 or (212) 563-2565.

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