The York Theatre Gala Honors Susan Stroman and You Are There

Susan Stroman Photo Credit:  Courtesy of The York Theatre Company

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Executive Director) honored Five-time Tony Award-winning musical theatre director/choreographer Susan Stroman with the 2018 Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre and Betty Cooper Wallerstein with the York Theatre Company Founders’ Award at the 27^th Oscar Hammerstein Award Gala held on November 12, 2018 at The Edison Ballroom.

Matthew Broderick Photo Credit:  Courtesy of The York Theatre Company

Hosted by Tony Award-winner Matthew Broderick

Attending and performing were:

Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Ahrens Photo by Russ Roland

Sierra Boggess Photo Credit:  Courtesy of The York Theatre Company

Nick Cordero Photo by Russ Roland

John Kander Photo by Russ Roland

William Ivey Long Photo Credit:  Courtesy of The York Theatre Company

Richard Maltby, Jr., Terrence Mann

Debra Monk Photo by Russ Roland

Brad Oscar Photo Credit:  Courtesy of The York Theatre Company

Tony Yazbeck, Laura Osnes Photo Credit:  Courtesy of The York Theatre Company

Bryonha Marie Parham, Kaley Ann Voorhees. Photo Credit:  Courtesy of The York Theatre Company

 Tiler Peck, David Shire, David Thompson, John Weidman,

Tony Yazbeck Photo by Russ Roland

Karen Ziemba Photo by Russ Roland

and a cast of 60 performers recreating some of Ms. Stroman’s most memorable numbers from shows such as Crazy for You, Oklahoma!, Contact, And the World Goes ‘Round, Show Boat, Bullets Over Broadway, Steel Pier, Scottsboro Boys, The Producers, and more.

Brad Oscar, Matthew Broderick Photo by Russ Roland

York’s Associate Artistic Director Michael Unger directed the concert and award ceremony with music direction by Andy Einhorn. Ms. Stroman’s choreography was re-set by some of her closest associates, Tomé Cousin, James Gray, Angelique Ilo, Ginger Thatcher, and Jeff Whiting.

Susan Stroman with York Board of Directors. Photo Credit:  Courtesy of The York Theatre Company

The Oscar Hammerstein Award is named in honor of the legendary lyricist and librettist who helped shape American musical theatre through his collaborations with a number of different composers and writers.  His contributions to such landmark musicals as Show Boat, Oklahoma!, South Pacific, and Carousel are a legacy for all time. The award was created in 1988 by Janet Hayes Walker, Founding Artistic Director of The York Theatre Company, with the endorsement of the Hammerstein family and the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization.  Its purpose is to recognize significant lifetime achievement in musical theatre and is presented at a gala evening held for the benefit of The York Theatre Company.

Susan Stroman, Matthew Brodrick and cast Photo by Russ Roland

The York Theatre Company Founders’ Award recognizes individuals who have made a significant impact on the sustainability of the Company, and of the arts.  Past recipients of the award include Janet Hayes Walker, the Founding Artistic Director of the York, W. David McCoy, Sarah Tod Smith, Molly Grose, Robert Goldberg, and Gerald F. Fisher.

Bryonha Marie Parham, Kaley Ann Voorhees. Photo by Russ Roland

Emily Geller, Evans Haile, Hanna Brammer Photo Credit:  Courtesy of The York Theatre Company

Matthew Broderick Photo by Russ Roland

Sierra Boggess Photo by Russ Roland

The Cast of “Bullets Over Broadway.” Photo by Russ Roland