Idina Menzel to Perform at the Kennedy Center Gala
(© David Gordon)
The Kennedy Center Gala Celebrating the Human Spirit will take place on April 3, honoring philanthropists Patrick G. Ryan and Shirley W. Ryan of Chicago; and actor, producer, and humanitarian Forest Whitaker, the recipients of the 2019 Kennedy Center Award for the Human Spirit.
The evening will feature an intimate dinner and awards presentation, a gala performance by Tony Award-winning actress Idina Menzel, and an after-party. Carol Melton and Jodie W. McLean are the cochairs of the 2019 Kennedy Center Gala.
Menzel will headline the evening, offering a performance that features Broadway standards, popular music, and some of the film songs for which she is best known. Just as the Kennedy Center Gala is a philanthropic event in support of arts and arts education programs, Menzel is involved in philanthropy as well, having cofounded the A BroaderWay Foundation, an organization dedicated to offering girls from underserved communities an outlet for self-expression and creativity through arts-centered programs.
The Kennedy Center Award for the Human Spirit recognizes recipients who have had an enduring impact on the advancement of arts, contributing to a culture of giving through philanthropy and service. The award is given in two categories, the Distinguished Philanthropist Award and the Citizen Artist Award.
