Gala season is in full swing and on the first day of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I attended Prospect Theater Company’s annual Spring Gala at The Edison Ballroom.
Don Darryl Rivera, Jason Ma, Diana Huey, Ann Harada, Alan Muraoka, Lia Chang, Ali Ewoldt, Miyuki Miyagi. Photo by Michael Jorgensen
Prospect Theater Company celebrated four extraordinary members of the theatre community: legendary actor and activist George Takei; educator and Tony & Grammy Award nominee Michael McElroy, Founder of Broadway Inspirational Voices; theater education leader Jim Hoare, Executive Vice President of Theatrical Rights Worldwide; and composer, lyricist, music producer, and activist Georgia Stitt, who were presented with the second annual Muse Awards.
2023 Prospect Muse Award Recipients- Michael McElroy, Georgia Stitt, George Takei, Jim Hoare. Photo by Lia Chang
The evening was co-hosted by Ali Ewoldt (The Phantom of the Opera, Gold Mountain) and Jelani Remy (Back to the Future, The Lion King) and featured presenters Telly Leung (Aladdin, Allegiance), Dell Howlett, Glen Pannell, and Molly Smith (Artistic Director of Tony Award-winning Arena Stage).
Ali Ewoldt and Jelani Remy. Photo by Lia Chang
Honoree George Takei and Presenter Telly Leung. Photo by Lia Chang
Presenter Molly Smith and honoree Georgia Stitt. Photo by Lia Chang
Honoree Michael McElroy and presenter Dell Howlett. Photo by Lia Chang
Presenter Glen Pannell, Prospect Producing Artistic Director Cara Reichel, and Honoree Jim Hoare. Photo by Lia Chang
The lineup of performers included Tony and Grammy Award winner Leslie Odom, Jr. (Hamilton) and Amber Iman (Goddess, Lempicka), Don Darryl Rivera (Aladdin) and Matthew McGloin (Prospect’s The Hello Girls), Nasia Thomas (Six), Diana Huey (The Little Mermaid), Hannah Elless (Bright Star), Julia Murney (Baby, The Wild Party), Allie Trimm (Wicked), Robert Ariza, Genesis Adelia Collado (Prospect’s Notes From Now), Darron Hayes (Prospect’s Notes From Now), and Miyuki Miyagi (Allegiance, West Coast Premiere). The music director for the evening’s performance was Peter Mills.
Leslie Odom, Jr. and Amber Iman. Photo by Lia Chang
2022 Prospect Muse Award recipients Lia Chang, Leonard Majzlin, Naima Kradjian. Photo by Tricia Baron
Ali Ewoldt. Photo by Lia Chang
Diana Huey, Ali Ewoldt, Don Darryl Rivera. Photo by Lia Chang
Don Darryl Rivera. Photo by Lia Chang
Diana Huey. Photo by Lia Chang
Diana Huey. Photo by Lia Chang
Honoree Georgia Stitt. Photo by Lia Chang
Jason Robert Brown and Honoree Georgia Stitt. Photo by Lia Chang
Jason Robert Brown. Photo by Lia Chang
Jelani Remy and Ali Ewoldt. Photo by Lia Chang
Jelani Remy and Ali Ewoldt. Photo by Lia Chang
Jelani Remy and Nasia Thomas. Photo by Lia Chang
Jelani Remy. Photo by Lia Chang
Allie Trimm. Photo by Lia Chang
Allie Trimm. Photo by Lia Chang
Ryan Bauer-Walsh. Photo by Lia Chang
Jason Ma, Ann Harada and Alan Muraoka. Photo by Lia Chang
Jason Ma, Ann Harada, Alan Muraoka and Lia Chang. Photo by Michael Jorgensen
Jesse L. Kearney, Jr. Photo by Lia Chang
Jesse L. Kearney, Jr. and Cara Reichel. Photo by Lia Chang
Brad Takei and George Takei. Photo by Lia Chang
Allie Trimm and George Takei. Photo by Lia Chang
George Takei and Elliott Masie. Photo by Lia Chang
George Takei. Photo by Lia Chang
George Takei. Photo by Lia Chang
Naima Kradjian, George Takei and Lia Chang. Photo by Michael Jorgensen
Naima Kradjian, George Takei and Lia Chang. Photo by Michael Jorgensen
Cara Reichel and George Takei. Photo by Lia Chang
James Babcock and Telly Leung. Photo by Lia Chang
Cara Reichel and honoree Michael McElroy. Photo by Lia Chang
Honoree Michael McElroy. Photo by Lia Chang
Telly Leung. Photo by Lia Chang
Alan Muraoka, Christopher Gurr, Vishal Vaidya and Jason Ma. Photo by Lia Chang
Alan Muraoka, Elliott Masie, Allie Trimm, Cathy Masie, James Babcock and Telly Leung. Photo by Lia Chang
Stephen Eng, Peter Mills, Lia Chang and Jason Ma.
Jesse L. Kearney, Jr. and Peter Mills. Photo by Lia Chang
Jesse L. Kearney, Jr., Stephanie Grayson and Peter Mills. Photo by Lia Chang
Melissa Huber, Christopher Gurr, Vishal Vaidya and Hansel Tan. Photo by Lia Chang
Miyuki Miyagi and George Takei. Photo by Lia Chang
Cara Reichel and Stephen Eng. Photo by Lia Chang
Honoree Georgia Stitt, Tira Harpez, Jason Robert Brown and a guest. Photo by Lia Chang
Jelani Remy and honoree Michael McElroy. Photo by Lia Chang
Schele Williams and honoree Michael McElroy. Photo by Lia Chang
James Babcock, Jelani Remy and Telly Leung. Photo by Lia Chang
Amber Iman. photo by Lia Chang
Amber Iman. photo by Lia Chang
Mat Hostetler and Ali Ewoldt. Photo by Lia Chang
Mat Hostetler and Ali Ewoldt. Photo by Lia Chang
A guest, honoree Georgia Stitt, Schele Williams and honoree Michael McElroy. Photo by Lia Chang
A guest, honoree Georgia Stitt, Schele Williams and honoree Michael McElroy. Photo by Lia Chang
Julia Murney. Photo by Lia Chang
Julia Murney. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt, Mat Hostetler, George Hobica, Schele Williams, a guest, Jelani Remy, Justin Anthony Long, Jason Ma, a guest, Diana Huey, Lia Chang and Amber Iman.
Jelani Remy and Justin Anthony Long. Photo by Lia Chang
Honoree George Takei. Photo by Lia Chang
Honoree Georgia Stitt Photo by Lia Chang
Honoree Jim Hoare. Photo by Lia Chang
Honoree Michael McElroy. Photo by Lia Chang
Diana Huey, Ali Ewoldt, George Takei, Telly Leung. Photo by Lia Chang
Alan Muraoka, Diana Huey, James Babcock, George Takei, Ali Ewoldt, Brad Takei, Telly Leung, Stephen Eng and Ann Harada. Photo by Lia Chang
George Takei, James Babcock, Telly Leung, Brad Takei. Photo by Lia Chang
Gala committee members Jason Ma, Jane Abramson and Tỉra Harpez. Photo by Lia Chang
James Babock, Don Darryl Rivera and Alan Muraoka. Photo by Lia Chang
Jason Ma and husband, George Hobica. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt and Jelani Remy. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt and Jelani Remy. Photo by Lia Chang
Leslie Odom, Jr. Photo by Lia Chang
Leslie Odom, Jr. and Amber Iman. Photo by Lia Chang
Amber Iman. Photo by Lia Chang
Honoree Michael McElroy and Leslie Odom, Jr. Photo by Lia Chang
Honoree George Takei. Photo by Lia Chang
Honoree George Takei. Photo by Lia Chang
Diana Huey. Photo by Lia Chang
Diana Huey. Photo by Lia Chang
Diana Huey. Photo by Lia Chang
Don Darry Rivera and Matthew McGloin. Photo by Lia Chang
Honoree Jim Hoare. Photo by Lia Chang
Hannah Elless. Photo by Lia Chang
Molly Smith. Photo by Lia Chang
Honoree Georgia Stitt. Photo by Lia Chang
Honoree Georgia Stitt and presenter Molly Smith. Photo by Lia Chang
Amber Iman, Julia Murney, Allie Trimm. Photo by Lia Chang
Nasia Thomas. Photo by Lia Chang
Peter Mills and Nasia Thomas. Photo by Lia Chang
Honore Michael McElroy. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt, Jelani Remy. Photo by Lia Chang
Robert Ariza, Miyuki Miyagi, Genesis Adelia Collado and Darron Hayes. Photo by Lia Chang
Jason Ma, Diana Huey, Ann Harada, Telly Leung, Alan Vishal Vaidya, Don Darry Rivera, Lia Chang, Ali Ewoldt, Stephen Eng. Photo by Justin Anthony Long
Valerie Lau-Kee, Jason Ma, Diana Huey, Ann Harada, Telly Leung, Alan Vishal Vaidya, Don Darry Rivera, Lia Chang, Ali Ewoldt, Stephen Eng. Photo by Justin Anthony Long
Ali Ewoldt and Stephen Eng. Photo by Lia Chang
Jason Ma, Diana Huey, Ann Harada. Photo by Lia C hang
Don Darryl Rivera, Ann Harada, Alan Muraoka. Photo by Lia Chang
Telly Leung, Ann Harada, Stephen Eng. Photo by Lia Chang
Jelani Remi and honorees Georgia Still and Michael McElroy. Photo by Lia Chang
Justin Anthony Long, Allie Trimm, Jelani Remy, Honoree Georgia Stitt, Dell Howlett, Telly Leung, Julia Murney, Michael McElroy. Photo by Lia Chang
Dell Howlett, honoree Georgia Still, Telly Leung. Photo by Lia Chang
Telly Leung and honoree Michael McElroy. Photo by Lia Chang
Julia Murney, honoree Georgia Stitt, Allie Trimm. Photo by Lia Chang
Jesse L. Kearney, Jr and Jacquelyn Bell. Photo by Lia Chang
Don Darry Rivera and Telly Leung. Photo by Lia Chang
Ali Ewoldt, Leonard Majzlin, Jane Abramson. Photo by Lia Chang
Jacquelyn Bell, Telly Leung and Jesse L. Kearney, Jr. Photo by Lia Chang
Michael McElroy and Lia Chang
Georgia Stitt, Jason Robert Brown, Valerie Lau-Kee. Photo by Lia Chang
Karin Kawamoto, Hansel Tan, Stephen Eng, Pete Foley. Photo by Lia Chang
Justin Anthony Long, Ali Ewoldt, Mat Hostetler, Alan Muraoka. Photo by Lia Chang
Jelani Remy, Nasia Thomas, Kenny Ingram, Lia Chang
Glen Pannell, Pete Foley, Cara Reichel, Alan Muraoka. Photo by Lia Chang
Glen Pannell, Pete Foley, Jesse L. Kearney, Jr., Cara Reichel, Ali Ewoldt. Photo by Lia Chang
Floyd Sklaver, Diana Huey and Marc Acito. Photo by Lia Chang
Prospect’s Board Gala Committee Co-Chairs include Jane Abramson, Tira Harpaz, and Jason Ma.
Melissa Huber, Jane Abramson, Tỉra Harpaz, Jason Ma and Caral Reichel
Prospect Board of Directors: front row L to R: Jane Abramson, Stephanie Grayson, Tira Harpaz, Julie Miller, Karin Kawamoto. Middle row: Jason Ma and Cara Reichel. back row L to R: Melissa Huber, Rob Gurman, Kyle Burkhardt, Peter Mills, David Milberg, Jesse L. Kearney, Jr. Photo by Tricia Baron
ABOUT PROSPECT THEATER COMPANY
Prospect Theater Company is dedicated to fostering and showcasing today’s new voices shaping tomorrow’s musicals. Over two decades, the company has premiered more than 35 musicals in New York City, in addition to new plays and numerous re-inventions of classic works. Reflecting its investment in the future of the field, Prospect leads a variety of developmental initiatives: including an annual Musical Theater Lab for emerging writers, and the IGNITE Series of new musical theater in concert. In 2020, Prospect launched the VISION Series of original music-theater works on film, created for online streaming. In recognition of its enterprising and risk-taking new musical theater, the company has received an OBIE Award grant, and its role as a community anchor for emerging artists that strengthens the quality, diversity, and dynamism of American theater was honored by the American Theatre Wing.
Up next at Prospect Theater is the New York premiere of the award-winning, indie-rock musical Lizard Boy, with book, music and lyrics by Justin Huertas and directed by Brandon Ivie. Recently, Prospect produced the musical song-cycle Notes From Now – Songs of Resilience & Renewal (2022) featuring a lineup of newly-commissioned original songs created by 21 of today’s brightest musical theater writers. Previously, Prospect produced the Drama Desk Award-nominated Einstein’s Dreams (2019) by Joanne Sydney Lessner & Joshua Rosenblum, adapted from the novel by Alan Lightman, and the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award-nominated The Hello Girls (2018), by company founding artists Peter Mills & Cara Reichel. Both of these shows ran Off-Broadway at 59E59 Theaters and have original cast albums available from Broadway Records. Other notable productions include: Kerrigan & Lowdermilk’s The Mad Ones (2017); Ryan Scott Oliver and Hunter Foster’s Jasper in Deadland (2014); the Drama Desk nominated Tamar of the River (2013) by Joshua H. Cohen and Marisa Michelson; Carner & Gregor’s Unlock’d (2013); Gordon Greenberg’s revisal of Working (Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Ensemble, 2012) including new songs by Lin Manuel Miranda; and Elizabeth Lucas’ re-imagining of Guettel’s Myths and Hymns (2012).
Lia Chang. Photo by Kalin Ivanov
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer, activist, documentarian and an Award winning filmmaker and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Lia is also the host and Executive Producer of BACKSTAGE PASS WITH LIA CHANG, an Arts and Entertainment and Lifestyle program that airs on Sundays at 1:30pm and 6:30pm on FIOS 34, RCN 83, Spectrum 56/1996 and streams on MNN2. Lia was recently profiled on Asian American Life. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. www.liachang.com www.liachangphotography.com
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