Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, Tony, Peabody, and Pulitzer Winners All to Share Philly Stage on One Night

It’s hard to imagine winners of the greatest awards in movies, music, television, theatre, journalism, and literature all sharing the same stage at a single event, but that is precisely what will be occurring at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia on Monday, November 13 at the Mazzoni Center Honors All-Star Benefit Concert honoring legendary Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz, best known for musicals such as Wicked, Godspell, and Pippin.

The special concert, at which Stephen Schwartz will be present to receive an award honoring his contributions to the arts and social justice, will benefit Mazzoni Center, the leading health and wellness center serving Philadelphia’s LGBTQ community and the city’s largest LGBTQ non-profit of any kind.

Hosted by Emmy and Peabody Award-winning broadcast journalist Soledad O’Brien, the event will feature an impressive list of Broadway and pop music stars performing songs from across Stephen Schwartz’s vast repertoire. Artists slated to perform that night include Paula Cole, Lorna Courtney, Charlotte d’Amboise, J Harrison Ghee, Vance Gilbert, Telly Leung, Terrence Mann, Lizzy McAlpine, and Alex Newell, along with legendary Philadelphia voices in Lauren Hart and Dee Dee Sharp, as well as the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus.

David Weisberg, Mazzoni Center’s Executive Development and Communications Officer, said that the organization is just thrilled to have so many extraordinary artists coming together to support the Center and that there are some other huge unannounced surprises to come. “It’s amazing to have Oscar, Grammy, Emmy, Tony, Peabody, and Pulitzer winners all coming together for one night to support Mazzoni Center. Beyond what we’ve already announced, there are some special surprise guests who are just going to blow people away,” said Weisberg, “and we have a finale in store that’s going to bring the house down.”

The event is being produced by Richard Barone with musical director, Nick Wilders, and will feature performances of songs from throughout Stephen Schwartz’s rich musical catalog. The main concert in Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall will be preceded by a drag show, also featuring Stephen Schwartz classics, with performances by local Philadelphia drag queens Brittany Lynn, Phoebe Manntrappe, and Nurse Morgan, in Kimmel Center’s Commonwealth Plaza

More information and a link to purchase tickets for the November 13 benefit concert are available at mazzonicenter.org/gala.