Numerous Broadway stars gathered for the 2023 American Theatre Wing gala September 11 in honor of unsung heroes of the theatre industry. Each attendee was asked to bring a guest, a personal hero who doesn't often get recognition—from swings, to dressers, to creatives, and more. Several stars stepped into a portrait booth with their guest. Check out the photos below.
The evening's attendees included J. Harrison Ghee, Melissa Etheridge, Ariana DeBose, Leslie Odom Jr., Lin-Manuel Miranda, Jane Krakowski, LaChanze, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Tituss Burgess, Justin Guarini, Danielle Brooks, and more.
Some of the evening's "unsung heroes" included Verna Hobson, an usher at the Winter Garden Theatre who has been working for 30 years, and was an actor previously. Hobson attended with Tony Award winner Adrienne Warren: "We met at opening night of a show and not only was she so helpful before the show started and during intermission.. she was so kind and warm, which truly [made] my night," the actor shared on Instagram. "She is Broadway history and now a friend."
The evening's honorees included more indispensable industry members like Shubert Organization Theatre Manager Kenny Nuñez, and Salisha Thomas, a Once Upon a One More Time understudy who stepped in as Cinderella last minute toward the end of the musical's run. See the full gallery of portraits below.
Verna Hobson and Adrienne Warren
Shoshana Bean
Ruthie Fierberg
Richard Hester and Julie Halston
Rebecca McBee and Melissa Etheridge
Rebecca McBee and Melissa Etheridge
Norm Lewis and Zane Mark
Lilli Cooper, Sara Jayne Darneille, Chuck Cooper, and Eddie Cooper
Leah Hofmann and Julie White
LaTanya Richardson Jackson, John Kristiansen, and Beverly Jenkins
LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Beverly Jenkins, and guest
LaTanya Richardson Jackson and John Kristiansen
LaTanya Richardson Jackson and Beverly Jenkins
LaChanze and Shoshana Bean
LaChanze and Shoshana Bean
LaChanze and Dr. Michael J. Pitman
LaChanze and Dr. Michael J. Pitman
LaChanze and Adriane Lenox
LaChanze
LaChanze
Kenny Nuñez and J. Harrison Ghee
Kenny Nuñez and J. Harrison Ghee
Kelli O'Hara and Erica Tuchman
Justin Guarini, Salisha Thomas, and Briga Heelan
Justin Guarini and Salisha Thomas
Justin David Sullivan and Johnny Perlaza
John Kristiansen and Jane Krakowski
Jey Moore and Shoshana Bean
Jey Moore and Shoshana Bean
Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita
Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita
Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Justin Mikita
Jane Krakowski and John Kristiansen
Jamie Bertoluzzi and Alexandra Billings
James Latus and Ruben Santiago Hudson
James Latus and Ruben Santiago Hudson
J. Harrison Ghee
J. Harrison Ghee
J. Harrison Ghee
Hank Hale and Danny Burstein
Greg Jarrett and Judy Kuhn
Dorothy Petersen and L Morgan Lee
Danielle Brooks and Kate Wilson
Danielle Brooks and Kate Wilson
Danielle Brooks and Kate Wilson
Brandon Victor Dixon and Jack Waddell
Brandon Victor Dixon and Jack Waddell
Bobby Wooten III and Tituss Burgess
Bobby Wooten III and Tituss Burgess
Bill Berloni and Heather Hitchens
Ariana DeBose, Kenny Nuñez, and J. Harrison Ghee
Ariana DeBose, Kenny Nuñez, and J. Harrison Ghee
Ariana DeBose, Kenny Nuñez, and J. Harrison Ghee
Ariana DeBose
Adrienne Warren and Verna Hobson
Adrienne Warren and Verna Hobson
Adriane Lenox and Zane Mark