American Theatre Wing to Celebrate Frank Loesser Centennial at June 7 Gala

American Theatre Wing will celebrate the centennial of composer Frank Loesser at its annual gala, entitled Heart and Soul: The Legacy of Frank Loesser, to be held at Cipriani 42nd Street, on June 7.

Loesser’s Broadway musicals include Where’s Charley?, Guys and Dolls, The Most Happy Fella, Greenwillow and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He was also known for the dozens of hit songs from his work in Hollywood, where he supplied lyrics to the music of Jule Styne, Hoagy Carmichael, Burton Lane and Arthur Schwartz; producing such hits as “I Don’t Want to Walk Without You,” “Heart and Soul,” “The Lady’s In Love With You,” and “They’re Either Too Young or Too Old” and, with his own music, “Spring Will Be a Little Late this Year,” “On A Slow Boat To China,” and the 1948 Oscar-winner, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”

The gala will also honor the companies Loesser created: Music Theatre International and Frank Music Corp. Among the evening’s honorary chairs is ATW’s longest serving board member (and Frank’s widow) Jo Sullivan Loesser, who, among many other roles, played the lead role in the original production of her husband’s The Most Happy Fella and toured the country in Guys and Dolls.

Marc Bruni will direct the evening, with musical direction by Rob Berman and lighting by Ken Billington. Casting will be announced at a later date.

All proceeds will benefit the education and outreach programs of the American Theatre Wing, and also go towards sustaining free access for students, aspiring professionals, and the general public to programming on AmericanTheatreWing.org, including “Working in the Theatre,” “Downstage Center,” and “In the Wings.”

For more information, visit americantheatrewing.org.