Azuka Theater Set to Celebrate Lenny Haas at 5/20 Gala

Azuka Theatre is holding their second gala celebration in honor of a visionary in the theatre community. At their first gala, they honored former Azuka Board President and Philadelphia Cultural Alliance Vice President for External Affairs Michael Norris. This year they are honoring local actor and philanthropist Lenny Haas.

The Honorary Chairperson is Carole Haas Gravagno. The evening includes a cocktail hour, dinner, desserts, and a musical performance featuring some of Philadelphia’s top performers. Azuka Celebrates… Lenny Haas, is Sunday, May 20th starting at 6 p.m. with the show and dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $200 for VIP Premium tickets, $125 for basic tickets, and $45 for industry tickets. The event will be at the Chemical Heritage Foundation, 315 Chestnut Street. Tickets are available online at www.azukatheatre.org or by phone at (215) 563-1100.

The performance will feature musical numbers from some favorite Philadelphia performers, including Kim Carson, who won a Barrymore for playing Yitzhak in Azuka’s production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Jameson Foreman and Joe O’Brien, who have both appeared in Azuka shows this season are also performing. The “headliner” for the evening will be an appearance by the wildly popular Martha Graham Cracker.

”The first significant financial support Azuka Theatre ever received was from Lenny Haas, and that was for our very first production in 1999” says Azuka Theatre Producing Artistic Director Kevin Glaccum. “Not a year has gone by since our inception that Lenny hasn’t been there for us. I think that’s true of a great many theater’s in Philadelphia and we’re honored to have the opportunity to celebrate this wonderfully talented and generous man”

Lenny Haas is on the board of the Wyncote Foundation. He was born and raised in the Philadelphia area and has been performing professionally in local theatres since 1988. He has been seen at The Arden, Wilma, 1812, Cheltenham Center for the Arts, Bristol Riverside, Act II Playhouse, Luna Theatre, Mum Puppettheatre, Hedgerow, Cape May Stage, and at The People’s Light and Theatre Co., where he has performed in over 30 productions as a member of their resident Acting Company. Proud accomplishments include appearing in an independent film (Cellar), performing the title role in Hamlet (Bristol Riverside), being nominated for a Barrymore (Norman in The Dresser, BRT) and actually receiving a Barrymore Award for the role of Henry in People’s Light’s production of The Fantasticks.