Shea’s Black Tie Gala

Tony Award Winner Laura Benanti Performing at Shea’s Black-Tie Gala

/ Buffalo Theatre Guide

Laura Benanti

Shea’s Performing Arts Center is proud to announce that Tony Award-Winning actress Laura Benanti will perform at Shea’s Black-Tie Gala on Saturday, April 27, 2019.

Tony Award-winner and five-time Tony Award nominee Laura Benanti is a highly celebrated stage and screen actress, currently starring on Broadway as Eliza Doolittle in Lincoln Center’s revival ofMy Fair Lady. Before that, Benanti was most recently seen onstage in Steve Martin’s hit Broadway play, Meteor Shower.

“Laura Benanti is a dynamic and impressive performer who continues to charm Broadway audiences,” said Michael G. Murphy, President of Shea’s.  “We are thrilled to have someone of her exceptional talent perform at Shea’s Gala – this will be an evening Buffalo won’t want to miss.”

Other Broadway roles include Amalia Balash in She Loves Me (Tony and Drama Desk Award nominee), Gypsy Rose Lee in Gypsy opposite Patti LuPone (Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards), Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Tony nomination, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards winner), Into the Woods (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle nominations), In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play, The Wedding Singer, and Nine (starring Antonio Banderas). Other distinguished theater performances include Perdita in The Winter’s Tale at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Anne in A Little Night Music at the L.A. Opera, Eileen in Wonderful Town, and Rosabella in The Most Happy Fella, both for City Center Encores!

Her television credits include recurring and guest appearances in Younger, The Detour, Supergirl, Law & Order: SVU, Nashville, The Good Wife, Elementary, Nurse Jackie, The Big C, NBC’s The Sound of Music Live and as First Lady Melania Trump on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Shea’s is also proud to announce that Jon Dandes will join us for a second year as Gala Chair along with Dr. Raul and Toni Vazquez as co-chairs for the Shea’s 2019 Gala.

Jon Dandes is the President of the Buffalo Bisons and President of the Canalside Management Group.   Jon is a long time and enthusiastic supporter of the WNY theatre community and has previously served as Chair of Shea’s Gala and Curtain Up!

Dr. Raul & Toni Vazquez own and operate G-Health Enterprises, which consists of GBUAHN, GBUIPA, and GBUACO (the Greater Buffalo United Accountable Care Organization).  G-Health Enterprises has over 450 participating providers and serves more than 7,600 members in the Western New York area.  Toni Vazquez also serves on the Board of Trustees of Shea’s Performing Arts Center.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to be collaborating again with Shea’s for another exceptional Gala,” Dandes said. “Shea’s is an integral part of Buffalo’s cultural resurgence and continues to offer high-caliber performances that bring Broadway star power to Buffalo – and Laura Benanti will be no exception.”

The annual Black-Tie Gala, sponsored in part by Ticketmaster, is the single most important fundraising event for Shea’s Performing Arts Center.  For more information on attending, or to become an Honorary Sponsor, call 716-829-1170.  And you can follow the excitement leading up the event and the evening-of April 27, 2019, by using #SheasGala2019 on social media.

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Tony Award-Winning Broadway Star from ‘Hamilton’ Leslie Odom, Jr. Performing at Shea’s Black-Tie Gala

/ Buffalo Theatre Guide

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Shea’s Performing Arts Center is proud to announce that Tony Award-Winning Actor from the original Broadway cast of Hamilton, Leslie Odom, Jr., will be performing at Shea’s Black Tie Gala on Friday, April 20, 2018!

Leslie Odom, Jr. took home the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of ‘Aaron Burr,’ opposite Lin-Manuel Miranda, in the blockbuster Broadway sensation, Hamilton.  He is also a Grammy Award Winner as principal soloist on Hamilton’s Original Broadway Cast Recording, which won the 2015 Award for Best Musical Theatre Album.  

“Leslie Odom, Jr. is one of the most dynamic and multi-faceted performers to take the stage on Broadway,” said Michael G. Murphy, President of Shea’s.  “To have someone of his exceptional talent and extraordinary artistic caliber perform at Shea’s Gala is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we are proud to present.”

Odom, Jr. made his Broadway debut at the age of 17 in Rent, before heading to Carnegie Mellon University’s prestigious School of Drama where he graduated with honors.  Additional theatre credits include Leap of Faith on Broadway, for which he won the 2012 Astaire Award for Outstanding Male Dancer on Broadway and was nominated for a Drama League Award; the 2014 musical Venice, which also played at The Public Theater; and the Encores! Off-Center production of Tick, Tick… Boom! which was his first time working with Hamilton creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda.

On the small screen, Leslie is best-known for his portrayal of ‘Sam Strickland’ in the NBC musical series, “Smash,” and his recurring role as ‘Reverend Curtis Scott’ on “Law & Order: SVU.”  He’s also appeared in episodes of “Gotham,” “Person of Interest,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “House of Lies,” “Vanished” and “CSI: Miami.”   Just released on November 10th, you can find Odom, Jr. in Kenneth Branagh’s reimaging of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express featuring an all-star cast that includes Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Dame Judi Dench, and more.

“We could not be more excited to host Leslie Odom, Jr. at Shea’s Performing Arts Center,” John Schaller, Shea’s Director of Development.  “To have one of the most accomplished and distinguished members of the original cast of Hamilton, at Shea’s on the heels of his celebrated run on Broadway – and in advance of the Hamilton Tour premiering next season at Shea’s,  means a lot for this special event.”

The annual Black-Tie Gala, sponsored in part by Ticketmaster, is the single most important fundraising event for Shea’s Performing Arts Center.  For more information on attending, or to become an Honorary Sponsor, call (716) 829-1170.  And you can follow the excitement leading up the event and the evening-of April 20, 2018, by using #SheasGala2018 on social media.