a gala event for the ages

I'll be there on July 31 (and the 30th too, come to think of it. Maybe I can pitch a tent on the lawn? Just sleep over?)

From Ravinia's e-newsletter:

The Ravinia Women’s Board presents another star-studded evening for this year’s Gala, celebrating the music of Stephen Sondheim. Be there on Saturday, July 31 for the performance featuring the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Paul Gemignani, vocalists Patti LuPone, Michael Cerveris, Audra McDonald and George Hearn and director Lonny Price.
“The genius of Sondheim can’t be questioned. The star power of Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, George Hearn and Michael Cerveris make them all without peer. The stage mastery of Lonny Price and Paul Gemignani is unimpeachable. Add all this magic to the natural beauty of Ravinia Festival, and you’ve got a Gala event for the ages,” said Ravinia President and CEO Welz Kauffman. “In a season brimming with special anniversaries, what better way to celebrate Sondheim’s 80th birthday than by recreating the greatest hits Ravinia has had with his music and these stars over the past decade?”

Since 2001 Ravinia has assembled its own Sondheim repertory company that includes Broadway stars Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, George Hearn and Michael Cerveris along with director Lonny Price and conductor Paul Gemignani, who leads the orchestras on most Sondheim cast albums. In different combinations, these artists have given Ravinia highly lauded productions of Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park with George, A Little Night Music, Passion, Anyone Can Whistle and Gypsy, which Patti, in her role of Mama Rose, took to Broadway to earn a Tony Award. And Ravinia’s visions of Sweeney Todd and Passion both generated highly lauded telecast productions.

In celebration of Stephen Sondheim’s 80th birthday, these great artists are “putting it together,” weaving their favorite moments from Ravinia’s Sondheim shows into a musical celebration that will remain “Timeless”.