Brian Strokes Mitchell Performs at Philadelphia Theatre Company Gala Tonight, 4/30

Brian Stokes Mitchell headlines Philadelphia Theatre Company's annual Gala tonight, April 30 at The Hyatt at the Bellevue. The event, which kicks off with a Silent Auction beginning at 6:00 PM, will honor Bala Cynwyd residents Marilyn and J. Robert Birnhak for their many years of support to both Philadelphia Theatre Company and its home, the Suzanne Roberts Theatre.

Marilyn and Bob Birnkhak, founders of their Philadelphia-area Weight Watchers franchise in 1964, have been involved in the Philadelphia area philanthropic endeavors for almost 50 years. Marilyn has been a 16-year member of the Board of Directors of PTC as well as a board member of the Philadelphia Drama Guild. In addition to serving as Executive Producers of PTC's production of Long Story Short last summer, they have invested in several Broadway productions, including The Producers. They have been honored by the Madelyn and Leonard Abramson Center for Jewish Life where they recently dedicated the Birnhak Transitional Center and where Bob serves on the Board of Directors. Marilyn and her late daughter, Tracey, who died after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer, founded the "I Have Strength Fund" associated with the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania and have endowed the Nutrition Center in the new cancer facility at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. They have additional received honors from the American History Museum, Magen David Adom, and the Ben Gurion University of the Negev, where they both serve on the Board. Bob has also been on the boards of The State of Israel Bonds and the Jewish Theological Seminary, and Marilyn serves on the Philadelphia Theatre Company board.

Brian Stokes Mitchell has enjoyed a rich and varied career on Broadway, television and film, along with appearances in the great American concert halls. His Broadway career includes performances in Man of La Mancha (Tony nomination and Helen Hayes Award); Kiss Me Kate (Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards); Ragtime (Tony nomination and Drama League's Distinguished Performance Award); August Wilson's King Hedley II (Tony nomination); Kiss of the Spider Woman; Jelly's Last Jam; David Merrick's Oh, Kay! and Mail, which earned him a Theatre World award for outstanding Broadway Debut. Late last year, Stokes returned to Broadway after a 7 year absence to star in Lincoln Center Theatre's production of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown which also starred Patti LuPone. At Encores he has starred in Do, Re, Mi and Carnival and this last season starred in Kismet. His long television career began with a seven year stint on Trapper John, MD and has included recurring roles on Crossing Jordan and Frasier.

Tickets to the gala at $250 are available by calling the Philadelphia Theatre Company Development Office at 215-985-1400 ext. 117.

For further information, call 215-735-7356.

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