Debra Monk Joins Signature Theatre's Sondheim Gala Honoring James Lapine

On April 20, 2015, Virginia's Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre honors renowned playwright, director and longtime Stephen Sondheim collaborator, James Lapine. Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress Debra Monk will join Brynn O'Malley, Claybourne Elder and Donna Migliaccio to honor Mr. Lapine.

Lapine will receive Signature's sixth Stephen Sondheim Award, to be presented on April 20, 2015 at a black-tie Gala Benefit at the Embassy of Italy. The award, established in 2009 in honor of America's most influential musical theater writer and composer, benefits Signature's artistic, education and community programs.

In 2009, Signature Theatre inaugurated The Stephen Sondheim Award in recognition of the importance of Mr. Sondheim's work to Signature and to theater in general. In April 2010, the first award was given to 5 time Tony Award-winning stage, screen, and television actress Angela Lansbury. In 2011, Tony Award-winning actress and singer Bernadette Peters received the award. In 2012, the award went to Tony Award-winner Patti LuPone. In 2013, Signature honored longtime Broadway producer and director Harold "Hal" Prince. Last year's celebration paid tribute to legendary orchestrator Jonathan Tunick.

Recipient of the 2009 Regional Theatre Tony Award, Signature Theatre is a non-profit professional theater company in Arlington, Virginia dedicated to producing contemporary musicals and plays, reinventing classic musicals, and developing new work. Since its founding in 1989, Signature has won 94 Helen Hayes Awards for excellence in the Washington, DC region's professional theater and has been honored with 368 nominations.

Photo Credit: Jessica Fallon Gordon