Goodspeed Musicals to Honor Kristin Chenoweth and Hoffman Auto Group; Alan Cumming to Present

Goodspeed Musicals will proudly honor the Hoffman Auto Group on Saturday, August 11, 2012 with the very first Goodspeed Musicals Arts & Business Partnership Award. Each year, Goodspeed Musicals honors a well-known member of the musical theatre community at its Gala celebration. This year, Goodspeed Musicals is pleased to add to the festivities the Goodspeed Arts & Business Partnership Award, recognizing that local businesses play a critical role in the well-being of our communities, especially when they support the arts. As a vital economic engine in the region, Goodspeed understands first-hand the importance of arts and business partnerships, and so is pleased to launch this new award, honoring annually a prominent member of the Connecticut business community who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the arts and culture.

“Goodspeed is delighted to honor Jeffrey, Bradley, and Matthew Hoffman for their long time support of Goodspeed, and for their dedication to so many arts organizations across the state,” said Michael Price, Executive Director of Goodspeed Musicals. “Their leadership in supporting the arts reminds us all that our state is a better place when businesses and arts organizations work together to improve our communities.” Hoffman Auto Group is known not only for its tradition of unparalleled dedication to customer service, but also its contribution to Connecticut’s philanthropic landscape. In addition to its very generous support of Goodspeed Musicals, the Hoffman family supports many other non-profits across a broad range of sectors, including education, the arts, and healthcare.

As previously announced, Goodspeed will also honor Emmy and Tony-Award winner Kristin Chenoweth with The Goodspeed Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre. Ms. Chenoweth, who appeared as Annie Draper in Goodspeed’s production of Strike Up The Band, is well known for effortlessly transitioning between stage, television and film with the captivating grace that only she can project.

The Honorary Chair for this Gala event will be Alan Cumming, who will also present the award to Kristin Chenoweth. Cumming played Rooster to Ms. Chenoweth’s Lily in the 1999 movie remake of Annie. He is currently playing Eli Gold on the hit television show “The Good Wife” and won the Tony Award for his 1998 turn as the EmCee in Cabaret.

The star-studded honorary committee will include Rob Ashford, Kristen Bell, Matthew Broderick, John DeLuca, Danny DeVito, Nora Ephron, Robert Harling, Sean Hayes, Hugh Jackman, Allison Janney, Peter G. Kelly, Simon Konover, Andrew Lippa, Matthew Morrison, Joe Mantello, Kathleen Marshall, Rob Marshall, Bette Midler, Dolly Parton, Annie Potts, Stephen Schwartz, Stacey Snider, Susan Stroman, Rita Wilson, BD Wong, and Chely Wright.