Abingdon Theatre Company will launch its 26th season with a gala event October 22 at The Edison Ballroom honoring two-time Tony winner Donna Murphy, most recently on Broadway in the Tony-winning revival of Hello, Dolly!
The evening, hosted by Randy Rainbow, will begin at 6 PM with a cocktail reception, dinner, tribute, and live auction, followed by a concert performance of Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire's musical revue Closer Than Ever.
Performers will include Nicholas Belton (Carousel), Lisa Brescia (Dear Evan Hansen), Tony nominee Liz Callaway (Baby), Lewis Cleale (Book of Mormon), Nikki Renée Daniels (Porgy and Bess), Erin Davie (Side Show), George Dvorsky (Closer Than Ever), Claybourne Elder (Passion), Aaron Kaburick (Hello Dolly!), Jeff Kready (Tootsie), Olivier winner Lesli Margherita (Matilda), Bonnie Milligan (Head Over Heels), Julia Murney (The Wild Party), Kyle Taylor Parker (Smokey Joe's Cafe), two-time Tony nominee David Pittu (Lovemusik), Conor Ryan (Desperate Measures), Justin Sargent (Jesus Christ Superstar Live), Carrie St. Louis (Kinky Boots), Joey Taranto (Kinky Boots), two-time Tony nominee Mary Testa (Oklahoma!), and Alysha Umphress (Smokey Joe's Cafe).
“We are grateful to this extraordinary cast of artists for supporting Abingdon Theatre Company and joining us in our celebration of the great Donna Murphy,” says Chad Austin, gala director and associate director of Abingdon Theatre Company. “We're honored that Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire have entrusted us with one of their most beautiful scores for the big night, and will be with us at The Edison Ballroom as we pay tribute to one of the great leading ladies of our time. With our dream cast it's sure to be a spectacular night.”
The performance will feature choreography by Deidre Goodwin, musical direction by Kevin David Thomas, and direction by Chad Austin.
Both individual Gala tickets (starting at $500) and performance-only tickets ($125) are available at AbingdonTheatre.org or by calling (212) 868-2055, ext. 2.
Callaway, Murney, and more have been special guest performers on Playbill's Broadway on the High Seas cruises. Cabins are now on sale for Playbill’s Broadway on the Rhône River 2 cruise April 7–14, 2019, featuring Melissa Errico, Norm Lewis, Rebecca Luker, Marc Kudisch, and Seth Rudetsky, and Broadway in Bordeaux With Michael Feinstein September 1–9, 2019, with other celebrity guests to be announced! Call Playbill Travel for tickets at 866-455-6789 or visit PlaybillTravel.com.
