Georgia Stitt Honored at Inaugural ASTEP Gala

ASTEP (Artists Striving to End Poverty) held its first ever ASTEP and Friends gala on Monday, April 23, honoring the activism of composer and lyricist Georgia Stitt (Snow Child). Tony Award winner Andrea Martin hosted the event at Feinstein's/54 Below.

The evening was conceived and directed by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, with most of the program honoring Stitt's body of work. Featured performers included Joel Perez (Fun Home), Kate Baldwin (Hello, Dolly!), Laura Osnes (Bandstand), Mean Girls stars Erika Henningsen and Grey Henson, Sean Green Jr. (Hamilton), and Tony Yazbeck (The Beast in the Jungle). Attendees for the evening included Dear Evan Hansen's Taylor Trensch, Drew Gehling (Waitress), Jason Robert Brown (The Bridges of Madison County), and more.

ASTEP was conceived by Broadway musical director Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Juilliard students to transform the lives of youth using the most powerful tool they had — their art. With programs as local as New York City and as global as India and South Africa, ASTEP volunteer artists teach in schools and community organizations, serving youth affected by refugee status, homelessness, gun violence, the justice system, HIV/AIDS, and systemic poverty.

The event raised more than $90,000 that will go towards bringing arts programs to underserved youth in the US and around the world.