{alltv} Sarah Jessica Parker Will Give 'Annie' Authors Goodspeed Award June 4

Friday, June 3, 2011

{alltv} Sarah Jessica Parker Will Give 'Annie' Authors Goodspeed Award June 4

Sarah Jessica Parker, the international TV and film star whose early career included donning a red wig, red dress and patent-leather Mary Janes as Broadway's Annie, will present an award to that show's creators at a June 4 benefit for Goodspeed Musicals.

Parker will present The Goodspeed Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre to Annie's Tony Award-winning writers Thomas Meehan (librettist), Charles Strouse (composer) and Martin Charnin (lyricist) at Goodspeed Musicals' Gala in Connecticut.

Conrad John Schuck, who made his Broadway debut as Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks opposite Sarah Jessica Parker in 1979, is master of cermonies for the entertainment-filled event.

The benefit is at The Riverhouse at Goodspeed Station, 55 Bridge Street (Route 82), in Haddam, CT, not far from East Haddam, where Goodspeed Opera House gave Annie its premiere prior to worldwide fame.

The Gala will include a cocktail hour and a dinner followed by a live auction and entertainment by some of Broadway's finest performers "celebrating Annie and its amazing journey from Goodspeed's stage to Broadway, the West End, and the silver screen."

Proceeds from the Gala will support Goodspeed Musicals' Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre.

The Honorary Committee (with some members present) will include Andrea McArdle, who originated the role of Annie at the Goodspeed Opera House and on Broadway; William Berloni, the 2011 Special Tony Award-honored theatrical animal trainer who adopted and trained the original Sandy; Ken Billington, lighting designer for the 1997 Broadway revival of Annie; Sutton Foster, who appeared in the Broadway revival of Annie in 1997 (she's busy as a Tony nominee of Broadway's Anything Goes); Freddie Gershon of Music Theater International; Arielle Tepper Madover, producer of the 2012 Broadway revival of Annie; James L. Nederlander and James M. Nederlander, Broadway producers of the original Annie; and Wendy Orshan, general manager for the upcoming 2012 Broadway revival.

Visit goodspeed.org.