KENNY LEON * * * * * * * * * Featuring Appearances by First Lady of the City of New York Chirlane Mccray, Maddie Baillio, Julius “Dr

PHOTO TIP MONDAY, MARCH 27 CONTACT: Marisa Levy P: 646-524-2222 [email protected] 321 W. 44th ST, STE 804, NY, NY 10036 SDC FOUNDATION’S “MR. ABBOTT” AWARD Honoring Tony Award Winner

KENNY LEON * * * * * * * * * Featuring Appearances By First Lady of the City of New York Chirlane McCray, Maddie Baillio, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Robert Greenblatt of NBC Entertainment, Christopher Jackson, Condola Rashad, Phylicia Rashad, Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Bill Sims Jr., Shanice Williams, And Many More!

WHAT: Tony Award Winner Jerry Mitchell and Lydia R. Diamond will emcee SDC Foundation’s “Mr. Abbott” Award Gala honoring Kenny Leon. The event will include special performances by Christopher Jackson (Hamilton), Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Bill Sims Jr., Shanice Williams (The Wiz Live!), and Maddie Baillio (Hairspray Live!), with appearances by New York City’s First Lady Chirlane McCray, Robert Greenblatt of NBC Entertainment, Tony Winner Phylicia Rashad, NBA Legend Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Condola Rashad (Billions) and others. The evening is scripted by Lydia R. Diamond and directed by Kamilah Forbes, with decor by Derek McLane.

WHEN: MONDAY, MARCH 27 CHECK IN TIME: 6:00 PM PHOTO OPP & INTERVIEW OPP WITH SPEAKERS, PERFORMERS 6:15PM WRAP TIME: 7:00PM

WHERE: espace 635 West 42nd Street (42nd Street and 12th Avenue)

SDCFoundation.org 321 W. 44TH STREET, SUITE 804, NEW YORK, NY 10036-5477 T (212) 391-1070 F (212) 302-6195 MORE: Civic leaders in attendance include Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Special Projects and Community Events Carla Matero, The Honorable Roberta Reardon (New York State Department of Labor), and Mayor of Atlanta Kasim Reed.

Industry guests include Mrs. George Abbott, Elizabeth Ashley, Ted Chaplin, Woodie King, Jr., Hal Luftig, Pam MacKinnon, Kathleen Marshall, Nelle Nugent, Joey Parnes, Constanza Romero, Scott Rudin, Charlotte St. Martin, Phil Smith, Bob Wankel, Ben Vereen, and many others.

The “Mr. Abbott” Award is named in honor of renowned director George Abbott and is presented in recognition of lifetime achievement. Past recipients of the award include Harold Prince, Bob Fosse, Mike Nichols, Agnes de Mille, Michael Bennett, Gene Saks, Tommy Tune, Arvin Brown, Trevor Nunn, Jerry Zaks, Gordon Davidson, Lloyd Richards, Garson Kanin, Graciela Daniele, Susan Stroman, Jack O’Brien, Lynne Meadow, Kathleen Marshall, Rob Marshall, Daniel Sullivan, Donald Saddler, George C. Wolfe, Jerry Mitchell and James Lapine.

Leadership for the 2017 “Mr. Abbott” Award are Co-Chairs Oz Scott and Michael Wilson; SDC Foundation Committee Chair Sheldon Epps; SDC Executive Director Laura Penn; and SDC Foundation Director David Roberts.

RSVP TO: Marisa Levy [email protected] 646-524-2222

For more information about the “Mr. Abbott” Award and other SDC Foundation programs, please visit http://sdcfoundation.org/recognition-advocacy/the-mr-abbott-award/.

About Kenny Leon: http://sdcfoundation.org/recognition-advocacy/the-mr-abbott-award/2017-mr-abbott-award- winner-kenny-leon/ # # #

SDCFoundation.org 321 W. 44TH STREET, SUITE 804, NEW YORK, NY 10036-5477 T (212) 391-1070 F (212) 302-6195