Dreamgirls Tony nominee and Abbott Elementary Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph will receive the 2023 Rosie Award at Amas Musical Theatre's annual Gala Benefit Concert May 15 at Theatre 555.
Celebrating the company's 54th anniversary, the gala evening will begin at 6 PM with a champagne toast followed by a 7 PM concert performance of Oh! Henry! The Music of Henry Krieger, directed by Bill Russell (Side Show, Lucky Duck). Performing songs from such shows as The Tap Dance Kid, Lucky Duck, Kept, Side Show, Up in the Air, and Dreamgirls will be Erin Davie (Grey Gardens), Bobby Daye (Moulin Rouge), Alexander Bello (Encores! Tap Dance Kid), Dewitt Fleming, Jr. (Encores! Tap Dance Kid), Robert Joy (Girl From the North Country), Kelvin Moon Loh (Beetlejuice), Marcy Harriell (In the Heights), Javier Ignacio (Company), Jeff McCarthy (Urinetown), Christiane Noll (Jekyll & Hyde), Emily Padgett (Side Show), Neptune (Hamilton), David St. Louis (Side Show), Lillias White (Hadestown, The Life), and Sally Wilfert (Assasins). Students of The Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Academy will also take part in the performance.
The evening will culminate with the presentation of the Rosie Award; a post-concert reception will be held at Penthouse 45.
“The Rosie Award is given every year to outstanding individuals who are leaders in their fields. Our honorees exemplify the spirit of Rosetta LeNoire, not only because of their extraordinary accomplishments and dedication in bringing our world more closely together, but because they help show the way to others who would follow. We are very proud to be honoring Sheryl Lee Ralph,” says Amas Artistic Producer Donna Trinkoff.
Past recipients of the Rosie Award include Maurice Hines, Phylicia Rashad, Dionne Warwick, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, Priscilla Lopez, Lillias White, Norm Lewis, Hinton Battle, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, and Leslie Uggams.
The evening will benefit Amas Musical Theatre’s education programs.
Amas Musical Theatre was the inspiration of African-American actor Rosetta LeNoire (1911-2002). LeNoire founded Amas (Latin for “you love”) to combat racism, proclaiming, “We are all flowers in God’s glorious bouquet, every one of us, every color!” Since 1968, Amas has been a force in New York City, developing and producing new American musicals, a pioneer in non-traditional casting and multiculturalism, and a forerunner of theatre arts education for underserved young people.
For ticket information visit AmasMusical.org.
