Embrace Broadway With The Drama League’s Bonnie Comley, Bevin Ross and Gabriel Stelian Shanks
The Drama League’s Annual Gala is more than just a fundraising event; it’s a celebration of the vibrant theater industry and the directors changing the face of theater. In November, you can join Gabriel Stelian Shanks, Bevin Ross and Bonnie Comley to celebrate the talent, directors, and creatives that make live stage performances magical. The Drama League Gala is a night of champagne toasts, spectacular performances, and unforgettable moments, and it’s an unmissable dramatic celebration – so travel to New York City and book your Drama League Gala tickets now!
Established in 1916, The Drama League is a non-profit organization that has played a pivotal role in shaping the theatrical landscape by providing support, education, and a platform for early-career stage directors. The 45-year-old Directors Project is a testament to their commitment to nurturing emerging talent, with one-third of all Broadway shows in the past decade directed by its diverse pool of alums. Collectively directing around 1,000 productions each year, Drama League Directors are impacting the arts and entertainment industries globally.
At the helm of The Drama League are three remarkable leaders: Gabriel Stelian Shanks, the Artistic Director since 2001; Bonnie Comley, the current President and a dedicated Board Member since 2009; and Bevin Ross, the Executive Director who arrived in 2019. This skilled trio has led the 107-year-old non-profit through the challenges of the past years, balancing the seriousness of the theater industry’s recovery with the joy of celebrating the work accomplished during and since the pandemic. Since 2021, thanks to Bevin Ross, the gala has been reimagined as “Embrace The Season.” It has evolved into a one-night-only extravaganza featuring performances from long-running shows and sneak peeks of upcoming productions. This blend of Broadway mega-hits and future sensations amplifies awareness and embraces everyone in the theater community.
Embrace The Season, produced by Gabriel Stelian Shanks, will feature a dazzling array of exclusive performances, appearances, and “sneak peeks” of Broadway productions to come. The evening includes Tony and Drama League Award Winner Annaleigh Ashford (currently in Sweeney Todd), Lindsay Mendez (Merrily We Roll Along); Andrew Durand (Shucked); Betsy Aidem (Prayer for the French Republic); special glimpses into the upcoming Broadway musicals How To Dance In Ohio and Water For Elephants, the latter featuring the award-winning composer/band PigPen Theatre Co.; and a series of tributes to producer Jeffrey Richards, the 2023 Embrace The Season Gala Honoree, from Tony Award-winning director Diane Paulus, Tony Award Winner Danny Burstein (Moulin Rouge, Fiddler on the Roof), and Tony nominees Norm Lewis (The Gershwins Porgy and Bess) and Jessica Hecht (Summer 1976, Fiddler on the Roof), among others.
The Drama League Gala is a formal affair that pays tribute to legendary theater professionals, so this year’s “Embrace the Season” gala will uplift the New York theatrical community by honoring Broadway producer Jeffrey Richards. Mr Richards joins the list of past honorees, which reads like a who’s who of theater royalty, including Angela Lansbury, Audra McDonald, Kristin Chenoweth, Chita Rivera, Steve Martin, Billy Crystal, Patti Lupone, Sutton Foster, Stewart F. Lane, Rose Caiola, and Wayne Brady. Theater megastars drop in to pay tribute to honorees, creating awe-inspiring performances, uproarious roasts, and heartfelt speeches. The Drama League Galas are the ultimate theater party – don’t miss it.
The Drama League recently launched Stage Directing Fellowships in partnership with Manhattan Theatre Club, McCarter Theatre Center, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Hubbard Hall Center for the Arts and Education, Keen Company, New York Stage and Film, and Red Bull Theater. The Drama League Stage Directing Fellowships provide a wide range of opportunities for emerging directors, creating multiple avenues for future success in the theater industry. Providing significant financial support, creative retreats, network development, and residencies at multiple theater companies, The Drama League Stage Directing Fellowships also offer opportunities to direct readings and productions throughout the two-year experience.
The Board of Directors’ Executive Committee is Bonnie Comley (President); Joseph Pizza and Arthur Pober (Vice Presidents); Townsend Teague (Treasurer); Irene Gandy (Secretary); Gabriel Stelian-Shanks (Artistic Director); and Bevin Ross (Executive Director). Completing the Drama League Board of Directors are Elena Araoz, Tony Benten, Trish Chambers, EstefaníaFadul, Sarah Hutton, Kirk Iwanowski, Una Jackman, Mary Jain, Paula Kaminsky Davis, Jonathan Lonner, Gwynn MacDonald, Stan Ponte, Nicole A. Watson, and Kumiko Yoshii.
Embrace The Season is chaired by Mary Jain, with major underwriting from Bob Boyett/RB Theatricals, BroadwayHD, Susan Edelstein Productions, and additional support from 101 Productions, Caiola Productions, John Gore Organization, and The Nederlander Organization.
Drama League Directors have received 22 Tony Award Nominations and nine Tony Award Wins, 20 Obie Awards, and multiple Oscar, Emmy, Golden Globe, Peabody, Jefferson, Drama-Logue, Helen Hayes, NAACP, GLAAD, and Princess Grace Nominations and Awards, among other honors. Over 100 alumni are Artistic Leaders of theaters and production companies across the United States, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Collectively directing approximately 1,000 productions each season, Drama League Directors work in every aspect of the arts and entertainment industries. They have transformed, entertained, and inspired millions around the world. And in November, they gather with Bonnie Comley, Bevin Ross, and Gabriel Stelian Shanks to embrace the talent, directors, and creatives that make live performance so magical. Its champagne, spectacular performances, and an epic night: The Drama League Gala!
