National Corporate Theatre Fund to Honor Chita Rivera

Broadway star Chita Rivera will be honored by the National Corporate Theatre Fund at the organization’s 2004 chairman’s awards gala on Monday, May 10 at the Essex House (160 Central Park South).

Rivera’s longtime friend Frank Langella will present her with the NCTF’s Theater Artist Award and Jerry Mitchell will serve as the evening’s master of ceremonies. In celebration of Rivera’s recent appearance in Kander and Ebb’s The Visit in Chicago, a performance from the new musical is planned as well as additional entertainment by Brent Barrett and other surprise guests. Also to be honored at the 2004 gala are Altria Group, Inc. and Rosalyn and Irwin Engelman.

The National Corporate Theatre Fund is an association of 11 of America’s most well established not-for-profit theaters. Headquartered in New York City, NCTF was created to encourage and promote increased participation of corporations and their employees in the support of theater in New York and across the country at every level, from discount ticket access to volunteer opportunities, individual and corporate financial support, board service, and sponsorship relationships. The 11 theater members of the NCTF are the Actors Theatre of Louisville, American Conservatory Theater, American Repertory Theatre, Center Theatre Group, the Cleveland Play House, the Old Globe, the Goodman Theatre, Guthrie Theater, Long Wharf Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, and Trinity Repertory Company.

Tickets for the May 10 Gala start at $1,000 and can be ordered by phoning Christopher Wynn at 212-750-6895 or e-mailing him at cwynn@nctf.org.