"On Broadway!" A Glittering Salute to the American Musical"

Any event which promises an appearance by Angela Lansbury has got to be okay in my book. She's hosting the following gala which will honor Brian Heidtke and Tommy Tune this October. Sounds very interesting, no?

Rolex presents “ON BROADWAY! A Glittering Salute To The American Musical”- Career Transition For Dancers’, 23^rd Anniversary Jubilee on Monday, October 27 at 7pm at New York City Center, 131 West 55 Street (bet. 7 & 6 Aves). Two of the honorees for the Gala are Brian Heidtke and Tommy Tune. Multi award-winning actress Angela Lansbury will host the Gala, which will be followed by an Anniversary Supper with the Stars at Hilton New York’s Grand Ballroom. “ON BROADWAY! A Glittering Salute to the American Musical”, is a glorious historical journey inside the Broadway musical seen through the eyes of legendary choreographers. The Gala will be the entertainment-dance event of the new season; accompanied by the Jubilee Orchestra with appearances by dance companies, dancers, stars and many surprises. It is produced and directed by Ann Marie DeAngelo.

“We are pleased to present the Rolex Dance Award to Tommy Tune, the most illustrious choreographer, dancer, singer and director of our time. This winner of nine Tony Awards and The National Medal of Arts is not only dedicated to the art of dance, but also to supporting the mission of Career Transition For Dancers. We are pleased to celebrate his legendary career and many contributions to the world of dance,” said Allen Brill, President and CEO of Rolex Watch USA.

Tommy Tune is the recipient of an unprecedented nine Tony Awards in 4 different categories plus, among other accolades, 8 Drama Desk Awards, 2 Obie Awards, 2 Astaire Awards, American Dance Award, Drama League Award, and the George Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement. Tommy first danced onto Broadway in the chorus of “Baker Street”, followed by “A Joyful Noise”, “How Now Dow Jones” and “Seesaw” (1^st Tony). He directed “The Club” then on to B’way, as choreographer and co-director on “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” followed by “A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine” (Tony). Other shows are “Cloud 9”; “Nine, The Musical” (Tony). A double Tony Award win for “My One and Only”. “Grand Hotel” followed with 2 more Tony wins; and the following year Mr. Tune did what no artist had done before when he won the same two prestigious honors back to back for “The Will Rogers Follies”. Tommy returned to perform his one-man song and dance show, “Tommy Tune Tonight!” Tune has sung and danced for three U.S. Presidents, the Queen of England and the Royal Family of Monaco. He was inducted into the Broadway's Theatre Hall of Fame, and has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Brian Heidtke will receive the Career Transition For Dancers' Award for Outstanding Contributions to the World of Dance. He has been an active member of the dance community for years, serving both as board trustee and as a financial supporter. He is the Vice President and Treasurer of ABT and chairs its education committee. He is also the recipient of the Lucia Chase Award. He has been an active supporter of the international ballet competition Youth America Grand Prix and of the Kaatsbaan International Dance Center. Formerly the Vice President, Finance and Corporate Treasurer of Colgate-Palmolive Company, he is the Chair of the National Association of Corporate Treasurers and a board member of the Williams Capital Management Trust.

Career Transition For Dancers, with offices in New York City and Los Angeles, has helped thousands of professional dancers identify their unique talents in preparation for establishing new careers when dance is no longer an option. Since 1985, they have provided more than 38,000 hrs (equivalent to $4 million) of one-on-one career counseling and program services (at no cost) and has awarded millions of dollars in scholarships for education and grants. CTFD also provides dancers with specialized services that include seminars and workshops, peer support groups, resource centers, a toll-free national hotline, and National Networking Directory. The Caroline & Theodore Newhouse Center for Dancers is at 165 West 46^th Street Suite 701 (at Broadway – the Actors’ Equity Building) NYC. CTFD’s phone number is (212) 764-0172 and the fax is (212) 764-0343 and in Los Angeles (323) 549-6660. www.careertransition.org

Gala tickets are $600, $750 & $1,200 each, which include the performance and a post-performance ‘Anniversary Supper with the Stars’, auction and dancing. Sponsorships, tables and journals ads are also available. For gala tickets call Marjorie Horne of McEvoy & Assocs. at (212) 228-7446 x33 and for Group Sales (718) 499-9691. Show only tickets are $130, $75, $55 and $45.