Primary Stages FALL Gala

Our Fall Gala took place on Monday, October 5, 2026 at Sony Hall

Honoring
Broadway Actor Ann Harada
with the Einhorn Mentorship Award

Accountant & Auditor Cathy Bendall
with the inaugural Theater Service Award

Creative Development & Producing Nonprofit Cherry Lane Alternative
with the Andrew Leynse Commitment to New Plays Award

with Performances by
Jennifer Barnhart, Julie Benko, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Elizabeth A. Davis, Ali Ewoldt, Francis Jue, Christopher J Hanke, Alan Muraoka, and Bryce Pinkham

and Tributes by
Douglas Carter Beane, Dean Carpenter, Kate Cortesi, and Jiehae Park

The Primary Stages Gala is the largest fundraiser of our season, and its income provides critical support for our free educational programs benefiting over 1,000 teens and teachers annually.

We were thrilled to present the Einhorn Mentorship Award to actor Ann Harada. The Einhorn Mentorship Award is awarded each year to someone in the theater community who has been a true mentor and inspiration to those who work with them. Past recipients include Carl Andress, Charles Busch, Judy Gold, Adam Gwon, Kate Hamill, Marla Persky, Kimberly Senior, Thom Sesma, Jeanine Tesori, and Sharon Washington. A beloved Broadway and screen veteran, Ann has built an extraordinary career while generously championing and mentoring the next generation of AAPI artists. She can currently be seen in Broadway’s Tony Award-winning Best Musical Schmigadoon!, reprising the role she originated in the acclaimed Apple TV+ musical comedy series. Best known for originating the role of Christmas Eve in Avenue Q, she has appeared in numerous Broadway productions, including Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, 9 to 5, Les Misérables, Into the Woods and Seussical.

Our inaugural Theater Service Award honored accountant Cathy Bendall. Created to recognize the often-unsung professionals whose dedication, expertise, and commitment keep the theater community thriving, this award celebrates the people who make the work possible – even when they’re rarely in the spotlight. Cathy is a partner emeritus at public accounting firm Withum and her distinguished career spans more than 42 years of dedicated service to not-for-profit organizations throughout the New York/New Jersey area and internationally. Cathy’s longstanding commitment to the nonprofit sector is especially meaningful within New York City’s not-for-profit theater community, where she has served for more than 10 years. She has brought practical insight, technical excellence, and a deep respect for the arts to every client relationship.

We were also honored to present the Andrew Leynse Commitment to New Plays Award to Cherry Lane Alternative. Created in memory of Primary Stages’ late Artistic Director Andrew Leynse, this award is given annually to a member of the theater community who has been a dedicated champion of new plays and new playwrights. Previous recipients include theater agent Beth Blickers, The Laurents/Hatcher Foundation, and Primary Stages Liff Lab founder Mickey Rolfe. Entering its 30th season, Cherry Lane Alternative (CLA) has spent three decades championing playwrights and producing new work, making it one of New York’s longest-running nonprofit Off-Broadway organizations devoted to new play development. Founded in 1997 upon Angelina Fiordellisi’s revival of the historic Cherry Lane Theatre, CLA has become an enduring steward of new work, cultivating the artistic relationships that shape the future of American theater.

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HONOREES

ANN HARADA

Broadway’s Schmigadoon!, Avenue Q

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CATHY BENDALL

Partner Emeritus, Withum

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CHERRY LANE ALTERNATIVE

Creative Development & Producing Nonprofit

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PERFORMERS

JENNIFER BARNHART

(Emmy nominee, Sesame Street, Broadway’s Avenue Q)

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JULIE BENKO

(Broadway’s Funny Girl, Ragtime)

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STEPHANIE D'ABRUZZO

(Tony nominee, Broadway’s Avenue Q, Sesame Street)

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Elizabeth A. Davis

(Tony nominee, Broadway’s Once, 1776)

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ALI EWOLDT

(Broadway’s Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables)

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FRANCIS JUE

(Tony winner, Broadway’s Yellow Face, M. Butterfly)

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Christopher J Hanke

(How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying)

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ALAN MURAOKA

(Emmy winner, Sesame Street, Broadway’s Pacific Overtures)

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BRYCE PINKHAM

(Tony nominee, Broadway’s Chess, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder)

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