The event, which begins at 6 PM, includes a dinner on the Shubert stage, dancing, entertainment and a tribute to honored guest stars. WNPR's Colin McEnroe serves as the master of ceremonies.

Buckley, Cook and Smith are the Shubert's guests and the first recipients of the Maurice Bailey Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre, a new honor inaugurated for the Shubert's 100th anniversary.

Buckley appeared on the Shubert stage in the 1969 world premiere of 1776 and returned to the Shubert Dec. 31, 1999, for the millennial New Year's Eve concert.

Cook first appeared at the Shubert in 1951 in Flahooley and followed in Plain and Fancy and She Loves Me. Cook also appeared in the Shubert's 75th anniversary performance and returned in 2001 in her one-woman show, Mostly Sondheim.

Rex Smith has been seen on the Shubert stage in the touring productions of Anything Goes, Grease, Annie Get Your Gun and Kiss Me, Kate.

The Maurice Bailey Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre was created for the theatre's 100th anniversary in honor of Maurice Bailey, who served as the Shubert's managing director.

The Shubert brothers ran the theatre from 1914 through the 1940-41 season. In the fall of 1941 the Shubert Theatre was leased to Bailey, who ran it for the next 35 years. The theatre was home to My Fair Lady with Julie Andrews, The King and I with Yul Brynner and A Streetcar Named Desire with Marlon Brando.

Proceeds from the gala event benefit the operation and care of the Shubert Theatre.

Gala ticket prices range from $300 to $1,000 For information and tickets, call the Development Office at (203) 624-1825 or email [email protected]. Visit shubert.com for more information.