Bebe Neuwirth replaces Martin Short at Dallas Theater Center’s Centerstage Gala

by Shawn Parikh

2007 Centerstage Gala

When:	Saturday, June 2, 2007, 7 p.m.
Where:	The Kalita Humphreys Theater, 3636 Turtle Creek Boulevard, Dallas
Cost:	$1000
Age limit:	N/A
Full event details »

I had mentioned a couple of months ago that Martin Short was headlining the Centerstage Gala for Dallas Theater Center. Turns out that he had family obligations, and therefore, Bebe Neuwirth, the Tony & Emmy award-winning actress, will be replacing him.

The night will not only help get funding for future projects, but will also honor and pay special tribute Richard Hamburger for being DTC’s first Artistic Director Emeritus.

Here is what DTC released about the change:

“We are thrilled to have Ms. Neuwirth as the headline performer at this year’s Centerstage gala,” said Barbara Page, Centerstage 2007 chair. “This performance will be a prelude to the future of the Dallas Theater Center and when it moves into the new Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre in 2009. Ms. Neuwirth is the perfect example of the talent that exemplifies DTC.”

Bebe Neuwirth has established herself as a versatile performer and has earned critical acclaim as Velma in the Broadway production of Chicago for which she won the Tony Award®, Drama Desk Award, and the Astaire Award. Ms. Neuwirth is the recipient of the Tony Award for her role of Nickie in Sweet Charity and her other Broadway credits include Fosse, Damn Yankees, Dancin’, Little Me, and A Chorus Line.

Bebe Neuwirth has also performed leading roles in numerous regional theater productions, including West Side Story for the Cleveland Opera, the title role in Kiss of the Spider Woman on London’s West End, The Three-Penny Opera at A.C.T., and Katherine in The Taming of the Shrew at Williamstown Theater Festival. Ms. Neuwirth’s film work includes Liberty Heights, Summer of Sam, Celebrity, Jumanji, Green Card, The Paint Job, Bugsy, and Tadpole, among others.

On television Bebe Neuwirth gained fame in her role as Lilith Sternin on Cheers for which she won two Emmy® Awards. Other television appearances include her Emmy-nominated portrayal of Dorothy Parker in Dash and Lilly and guest work on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Hack.

Proceeds from Dallas Theater Center’s annual Centerstage Gala benefit the theater’s acclaimed artistic and expansive education programs. Individual tickets are $1,000 and underwriting levels start at $2,500. For more information, please contact the DTC Development Office at centerstage@dallastheatercenter.org or 214.252.3915.

If you still don't know who Bebe Neuwrith is, here is a clip of her performing at the Tonys: