The 55th Annual Amas Musical Theatre Benefit Gala will honor theatre legends Patricia Birch and Len Cariou.
Held May 13 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center, the gala will support Amas educational programs throughout the year. Featuring performances from Birch and Cariou's extensive theatrical careers, including Grease, They’re Playing Our Song, and A Little Night Music, the gala will star a number of yet-to-be-announced Broadway performers, as well as students from the Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Academy.
In addition to Birch and Cariou, corporate sponsor Butler Tibbets will be honored with the Rosie Award.
“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 thrilled to be paying tribute to these wonderful Honorees, all of whom have made such a profound impact in the performing arts” says Donna Trinkoff, artistic producer of Amas, in a statement.
“Butler Tibbetts has been a philanthropic patron of the company for more than 10 years," she adds. "Len Cariou’s career has spanned theatre, from Shakespeare to musicals, television and film, and he is one of the greatest actors of his generation. Pat Birch’s amazing body of work as a trailblazing female choreographer and director has paved the way for so many of our artists to establish their careers. We are also delighted to have Amas Artistic Associate Jonathan Cerullo on board to direct the evening because of his relationship with Patricia Birch which is all-embracing, not only as her sole and exclusive assistant for 12 years but, as his mentor, and friend.”
Past recipients of the Rosie Award have included Maurice Hines, Phylicia Rashad, Dionne Warwick, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, Priscilla Lopez, Lillias White, Norm Lewis, Hinton Battle, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Leslie Uggams and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
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 underwriting theatre education for underserved young people. Founded by Rosetta LeNoire, the goddaughter of legendary dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Amas was founded with the intention to combat racism throughout the theatre industry by upending institutional barriers that have historically limited access pipelines.
For more information, visit AmasMusical.org.
