Debra Messing and Ann Sarnoff Honored with Women of Achievement Awards

On Monday, March 27, the WP Theater (formerly Women's Project Theater), under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Lisa McNulty and Managing Director Michael Sag, is thrilled to announce WP Theater's 32nd Annual Gala, honoring game-changing women with the Women of Achievement Awards.

The gala will honor Emmy Award-winning actress and activist Debra Messing ("Will & Grace," "Outside Mullingar") and trailblazing media executive, President of BBC Worldwide North America, Ann M. Sarnoff. Hosted by Tony Award-winning actress and musician Lena Hall ("Hedwig and the Angry Inch," "Kinky Boots"), with special performances and appearances by award-winning actress, comedian & activist Kathy Najimy ("Sister Act," "Hocus Pocus"), writer, theater producer and philanthropist Kate Lear ("Of Mice and Men").

Also attending are composers of WP & Ars Nova's upcoming production "Sundown, Yellow Moon," the indie-rock duo The Bengsons ("Hundred Days"), two-time Drama Desk Award nominee Christina Bianco ("The Marvelous Wonderettes"), and Theatre World Award winner Ana Villafa�e ("On Your Feet!").

Each year WP honors truly outstanding women who have taken risks, pushed limits, and broken ground in a wide variety of fields, celebrating their unique accomplishments at the Women of Achievement Awards. Over the past 31 years, WP Theater has paid homage to luminaries such as Gloria Steinem, Whoopi Goldberg, Audra McDonald, Eve Ensler, Dame Judi Dench, Kerry Washington, Vanessa Redgrave, and Chita Rivera, to name but a few. Women of Achievement Awards delivers an inspiring, entertaining, star-studded night that celebrates the accomplishments of vital women across many disciplines in New York and beyond.

Called "an important, risk-taking organization" by New York Magazine, WP Theater is the nation's oldest and largest theater company dedicated to developing, producing and promoting the work of women in theater at every stage in their careers. WP Theater supports female-identified theater artists and the world-class, groundbreaking work they create, and provides a platform where their voices can be heard and celebrated on the American stage.

The 2016-17 WP Theater season kicked off in the fall with two-time Grammy award-nominated comedian Lisa Lampanelli's hit play, "Stuffed," which extended its run at the WP Theater due to popular demand. This spring, along with adventurous theater company Ars Nova, WP Theater presents the world premiere of award-winning playwright Rachel Bonds' "Sundown, Yellow Moon," featuring music and lyrics from The Bengsons, additional lyrics by Rachel Bonds, and directed by Drama Desk Award, Lortel Award and two-time OBIE Award winner Anne Kauffman ("The Nether").

Starring Eboni Booth ("Ultimate Beauty Bible"), Lilli Cooper ("Spring Awakening," "tick, tick...BOOM!," "The Spongebob Musical"), Peter Friedman ("Twelve Angry Men" "Ragtime," "The Heidi Chronicles"), and Anne L. Nathan ("It Shoulda Been You," "Once," "Assassins"), previews began on February 28, 2017 at the WP Theater. This season WP is also working with contemporary dance/theater company Monica Bill Barnes & Company ("Happy Hour"), site-specific, immersive theater company PopUp Theatrics ("Broken City Trilogy"), and cross-cultural artistic collective, The Semitic Root ("The Strangest"), as part of their newly launched Domestic Partner Program, which focuses on supporting fellow organizations developing work by female artists.

Sponsorship and support of WP's premiere event complements WP Theater's unwavering commitment to develop, produce, and promote the work of female theater artists at every stage in their careers.

WP Theater's 32nd Annual Gala will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, March 27 at The Edison Ballroom, 240 W. 47th Street.