All-Star Line-Up Set for Sondheim 75th Birthday Benefit

An all-star cast has been announced for Children and Art, a one-night-only gala celebrating composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim’s 75th birthday as a benefit for Young Playwrights Inc. The event is scheduled for Monday, March 21 at Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd Street), beginning at 7:30pm. The entertainment portion of the gala will be directed by Richard Maltby, Jr., with musical direction by Kevin Stites.

Among the stars scheduled to perform are Matthew Broderick, Michael Cerveris, Barbara Cook, Stephanie D’Abruzzo, Jason Danieley, John Dossett, Harvey Evans, Dame Edna Everage, Harvey Fierstein, Whoopi Goldberg, George Hearn, Judy Kuhn, Nathan Lane, Rebecca Luker, Patti LuPone, Marin Mazzie, Audra McDonald, Debra Monk, Mandy Patinkin, Michele Pawk, Bernadette Peters, Kurt Peterson, David Hyde Pierce, Tonya Pinkins, Lonny Price, Alice Ripley, Chita Rivera, Marti Rolph, Virginia Sandifur, Jim Walton, and B.D. Wong. Also on hand will be the 100-voice Broadway Star Chorus, the 60-voice Young People’s Chorus of New York, and a 35-piece orchestra.

All proceeds from the event will benefit Young Playwrights Inc. Tickets range in price from $150 to $5,000 and may be purchased by calling 212-594-5440. Tickets at the $1,500 price level and above include a post-show dinner with Sondheim at the Four Seasons, 99 East 52nd Street. For more information about the benefit, visit www.sondheim75.com; for more information about Young Playwrights Inc., visit www.youngplaywrights.org.