Our Time, which serves as an artistic home for young people who stutter, allows youth to express themselves and overcome challenges through theatre. The gala will raise funds to support the organization's programs.
The 2013 gala will honor music legend Mel Tillis, whose achievements as a person who stutters "inspire the youth of Our Time's programs to live out their dreams."
The event will feature performances and presentations by Tony winner Christian Borle (Peter and the Starcatcher), Tony nominee Bobby Cannavale (Mauritius), Tony winner Michael Cerveris (Assassins), Rachel Dratch ("Saturday Night Live"), Gina Gershon (Bye Bye Birdie), Tony nominee Jeremy Jordan (Newsies), Richard Kind (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Jesse L. Martin (Rent), John Oliver, Anthony Rapp (Rent), Tony winner Ron Rifkin (Cabaret), Tony nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega (Rent), Tony nominee Amy Ryan (A Streetcar Named Desire), David Strathairn (The Heiress) and more, alongside the youth of Our Time's programs. A dinner and auction will follow.
The organization will also present the Budd Mayer Advocacy Award to speech-language pathologist Dr. Phil Schneider for "his exceptional dedication to supporting people who stutter and their families" and a special commendation for exemplary leadership to Saadiq Wicks, the 11-year-old founder and director of "LLLet Me Finish," an extension of Our Time that promotes awareness about stuttering and raises money to send kids in need to Camp Our Time.
For more information and tickets, visit OurTimeStutter.org.