Liza Minnelli, Bebe Neuwirth & More to Honor Legendary Composer John Kander at Dramatists Guild Fund Gala

With the help of theater icons like Liza Minnelli and Bebe Neuwirth, the Dramatists Guild Fund will honor legendary composer John Kander at their upcoming 50th Anniversary Gala. The celebration, hosted by Jon Cryer, will be held at the Mandarin Oriental New York on June 3.

In addition to Minnelli and Neuwirth, performances and tributes will be given by well-known members of the theater community including Chita Rivera, Christie Brinkley, Stockard Channing, Joel Grey, Rob Marshall, Susan Stroman, Debra Monk, Karen Ziemba and Joshua Henry. Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (the film adaptations of Chicago, Hairspray and TV's Smash) are honorary co-chairs of the event.

Alongside the late lyricist Fred Ebb, Kander created some of Broadway’s most popular and iconic musicals, including Chicago and Cabaret. He’s won three Tony Awards (Cabaret, Kiss of the Spider Woman and Woman of the Year) as well as two Grammys and two Emmys, the latter of which resulted from his longtime collaboration with Liza Minnelli. Among his other Broadway shows are The Scottsboro Boys, Curtains, Steel Pier, The Rink, Zorba, 70 Girls 70, A Family Affair and more.