Performer Bernadette Peters
The gala was hosted by Grammy and Emmy Award-nominated actor Cheyenne Jackson and included special performances from Jackson as well as Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters, Broadway star and Ballroom Icon “Tempress” Chasity Moore, Latin Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter Sonia De Los Santos, and more!
June 3, 2026 – This week, performing arts and arts education nonprofit New 42 hosted its annual gala at the Plaza Hotel to celebrate the organization’s 35th anniversary. The gala was hosted by critically acclaimed Broadway and television actor Cheyenne Jackson, featured performances directed by Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Warren Carlyle, and recognized three individuals who have played a vital role in shaping the organization’s history and impact – Tony Award winner André De Shields, New 42 Artistic Director Mary Rose Lloyd, and New 42 Board Member Sarah Long. The event raised over $2 million, assisting New 42’s programs that open new worlds for young audiences at New Victory Theater, incubate new works at New 42 Studios, and pave new pathways to creative careers through artist mentorship and youth workforce development programs.
André De Shields, who has brought his singular artistry to rehearsals and performances at New 42 Studios and has been a lifelong advocate for arts education and access, was presented with the inaugural New 42 Ovation Award by Victoria Rosner, Dean of the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at NYU. Broadway actress and Ballroom Icon “Tempress” Chasity Moore performed “Memory” in celebration of De Shields, who is currently her co-star in the Tony Award-nominated production, Cats: The Jellicle Ball.
A champion for theater for young audiences, curator Mary Rose Lloyd was presented with the New Victory Arts Award by Peter Brosius, former Artistic Director of the Children’s Theatre Company. Lloyd’s vision as New 42 Artistic Director has provided young audiences with magical theater experiences for almost 30 years. Singer-songwriter Sonia De Los Santos, a leading voice in Latin children’s and family music, performed “Songs for the People” in honor of Lloyd.
Performer, director, producer and New 42 Board Member Sarah Long was presented with the Marian Heiskell Award by producer Nina Korelitz Matza. Long has passionately served on the New 42 Board for over 21 years, including 11 years on the Executive Committee. In tribute to Long’s contributions to New 42, legendary actress Bernadette Peters performed “No One Is Alone” and “Children Will Listen” from Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods, a nod to the 1987 Broadway production in which she originated the role of the Witch.
New 42 Board Member, CFDA Fashion Award and Drama Award winner Isaac Mizrahi hosted the paddle raise fundraising portion of the evening supporting the organization’s artistic, arts education and community engagement initiatives.
In addition to celebrating the 35th anniversary of New 42, the gala also celebrated the 25th anniversary of New 42 Studios and the 30th anniversary of the opening of the New Victory Theater. The New Victory Theater’s 2026-27 Season, announced last week, is now on sale at www.newvictory.org.
Since 1995, New Victory Theater has welcomed generations of families to experience the magic of theater together: the New 42 family includes 150 Partner Schools and 20,000 NYC school kids, whose education is enriched each year by the New Victory’s performances and resources as well as the New 42 Youth Corps employment program.
The New 42 2026 Gala leadership included the Arnhold Family, Blavatnik Family Foundation, Sarah Long and David Solomon, Fiona and Eric Rudin, Diane and Marc Spilker, and Henry Tisch and Sean Walsh. Lowenstein Sandler, Alvarez & Marsal, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Holland & Knight, Kirkland & Ellis, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, and Tiffany & Co. were lead sponsors of the gala.
Other major supporters included Hosts Kelly and William Galanis; and Benefactors Shahara Ahmad-Llewellyn, Yemi Benedict-Vatel and Patrick Vatel, Kitty Patterson Kempner and Tom Kempner, Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, Kathy and Joe Mele, Gerri and Andy Sommers, and Ann Unterberg.
