Paper Mill Playhouse Will Honor Chita Rivera at Annual Gala

Two-time Tony-winning Broadway legend Chita Rivera will be presented with the Frank Carrington Award for Excellence in the Arts at Paper Mill Playhouse's annual gala on May 12 at the Hilton Short Hills.

A 10-time Tony nominee, Rivera was most recently seen on Broadway in Kander and Ebb's The Visit. She earned Tony Awards for her performances in Kander and Ebb's The Rink and Kiss of the Spider Woman, and she is well known for originating roles in Bye Bye Birdie, West Side Story, and Chicago, among other classic Broadway musicals.

The gala will feature performances from Shanice Williams (NBC’s The Wiz Live!), Megan Sikora (Holiday Inn), Karen Mason (Hairspray), and Kat Nejat (Lysistrata Jones). In addition, students from Paper Mill’s education programs will be featured along with Paper Mill’s award-winning Broadway Show Choir, which is sponsored by Overlook Medical Center. The gala is sponsored by Investors Bank, Jersey Central Power & Light, Dior, Hilton Short Hills, and Jerry Rose Floral + Event Design.

In addition to Rivera, Brian A. Gragnolati, the president and chief executive officer of Atlantic Health System, will be presented with the Byrne/Kean Arts Advocate Award, and Dior will be presented with the Antoinette Scudder Patron of the Arts Award. There will also be a special presentation honoring Paper Mill Playhouse leaders Mark S. Hoebee (artistic director) and Todd Schmidt (managing director).

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