On Sunday evening, October 27 at the National Arts Club, Encompass New Opera Theatre honored the great lyricist Sheldon Harnick (Fiorello, She Loves Me, Fiddler on the Roof, etc., etc.) with a musical salute featuring some of the brightest Broadway stars of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Also in attendance were several of Harnick's fellow musical theater writers, along with many other notables. Here are my photos of this unforgettable event.
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Sheldon Harnick and Hal Prince: Colleagues and friends for more than half a century.
Charlotte Rae, whose friendship with Harnick dates back more than 60 years.
Rae and Harnick, catching up.
Harnick's wife, Margery, with Jason Danieley, one of the evening's performers.
Broadway star and Harry Potter reader Jim Dale.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, of In the Heights fame.
The beauteous singing actress Kate Baldwin (currently on Broadway in Big Fish) with lyricist David Zippel.
The brilliant Broadway orchestrator Jonathan Tunick (center), flanked by Broadway composer Matthew Sklar and singer/actress Alexandra Silber.
Sally Mayes, who played Ilona in the 1993 Broadway revival of She Loves Me, took another "Trip to the Library" during the performance portion of the event.
In the highlight of an evening of highlights, Barbara Cook, who created the role of Amalia in the original Broadway production of She Loves Me 50 years ago, made time stand still with her breathtaking rendition of "Will He Like Me?" from that immortal score.
