Show Begins 8:00 pm
74 Hauppauge Rd.
Commack, NY
Meet our Broadway Stars
Sara Jean Ford
Drama Desk Award Nominee
Sara Jean Ford is best known for starring as Christine Daae on Broadway and on the National Tour of the The Phantom of the Opera. Other Broadway: Cats (Jellylorum), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Smitty), A Little Night Music (Mrs. Anderssen, Anne/Petra cover) and Finnian’s Rainbow (Arlene, Sharon cover). Off-Broadway: The Fantasticks (Luise, Revival Cast Recording). Broadway in Chicago: Wicked (Glinda/Nessarose cover). Regional: The Music Man (Marian), and Into The Woods (Cinderella), Sunday in the Park with George (Dot), Candide (Cunegonde), Carousel (Carrie), and originated the role of Nellie Oleson in Little House on the Prairie: The Musical. Concerts: Dream of Now, Dream of Then: Anyone Can Whistle at City Center Encores!, Defying Gravity: The Music of Stephen Schwartz and Eric Whitacre at Lincoln Center and Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings as Carnegie Hall, Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre, and Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Jon Peterson
Jon Peterson recently returned to New York having starred as the Emcee in the National tour of Cabaret, a role he also played on Broadway and around the world. Off-Broadway: George M. Cohan Tonight, Have a Heart, The George M. Cohan Revue, Irving Berlin in Person, Half of Sixpence, Regional: Peter and the Starcatcher (Theatre Aspen), He Wrote Good Songs (write/actor) (Seven Angels Theatre), Song Man Dance Man (Milwaukee Rep), Singin’ in the Rain (Ogunquit Playhouse), Sophisticated Ladies (Gateway Playhouse), Half of Sixpence (Goodspeed), The World Goes Round, The Rocky Horror Show, A Chorus Line (MUNY). London West End: The Sound of Music, A Chorus Line, Dames at Sea, She Loves Me, “Y”, Sophisticated Ladies: Cavalcade, Whoop-Dee-Doo!, Definitely Doris, Cats, On Your Toes, Blitz!. Film Include: “Then”, “Sketch”, “Coffee and Cabbage”, “A Moment”, “Track”, “The Lost City of Tomorrow”, “My Life Sucks”, “Rick’s Pawn Shop”, “Death’s Waiting Room”, “Like the Spider”, “The Color of War”, “Human After All”, “Face to Face”, “Penny Saver”, “Proverbia”, “Anna Ballerina”, “Mail Order Wife”, “Surviving Picasso”. Albums: “Skidoo!”, “George M. Cohan Tonight”, “The Johnny Mercer Jamboree”, “Irving Berlin Revisited”.
Julie Reiber
Julie Reiber recently returned to New York after starring as Mary Jane Healy in the Broadway National Company of Jagged Little Pill. She previously closed Come from Away on Broadway, performing as Beverley Bass in the CFA concert at The Lincoln Memorial Honoring the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Best known for playing the iconic green girl Elphaba in Wicked (Broadway, L.A.) Other Broadway: BKLYN, All Shook Up, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, and Newsies. TV/Film: “The Americans (Chrissy Tanner), “Freehold” (Cat) opposite Julianne Moore. Soloist for the NBC’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting and with orchestras around the world. Debut album Love Travels on iTunes and Spotify.
Ta-Tynisa Wilson
Ta-Tynisa Wilson most recently starred as Deena Jones in the Godspeed Opera House revival production of Dreamgirls. She made her Broadway debut as the Schuyler sister standby in Hamilton: An American Musical and recently starred as Angelica. Millions have seen her on “American Idol” Season 10 as one of the top finalists and fan favorites. She has traveled the world performing on cruise ships, which allowed her to share her talents across the globe. Ta-Tynisa is grateful for the constant love and support from her family and friends. Don’t let anyone dim your light.
Eric Jordan Young
Eric Jordan Young has been called “a one-man force of nature,” and “an outsized talent”. He is the proud recipient of the Broadway World Award for Best Performance by a Lead Actor. He is an accomplished Producer, Director, Choreographer, Entertainer, Playwright and Songwriter with TV, Broadway (Ragtime ’09, Chicago, Seussical, Look of Love), Off-Broadway/Regional: (New York Shakespeare Festival, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Alliance Theater, Signature Theatre), National Tour (Chicago, Ragtime, Dreamgirls), and Commercial credits. Eric is a Helen Hayes Award recipient whose critically acclaimed Las Vegas performances include Cocktail Cabaret (Caesars Palace), Rock of Ages (Venetian/Rio), Shakin’- Vegas Remixed with a Twist (Planet Hollywood), Chicago (Mandalay Bay), Starlight Express (Las Vegas Hilton) and Vegas! The Show. Eric has performed with several Symphonies throughout the country including the Atlanta Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Phoenix Symphony Orchestra and the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. His solo album “Once in a Lifetime”, was produced by his company EnJoY! Productions and his one-man musical Sammy & Me is the winner of the ArtVoice and Salt Awards. Mr. Young served as the Resident Director of Baz (Venetian/Palazzo) and loves working as a Creative Director for original projects including Renegades at Caesars Palace and Drag Supper Club. Eric is the Associate Director for the Norwegian Cruise Line production of Footloose and the immersive production of Rock of Ages in Hollywood, CA. Latest work includes the Kennedy Center production of Guys and Dolls and several new works including the new musicals Vanishing Girl and The Last show. Eric is currently a Visiting Assistant Professor of Theater at Long Island University.
Stephen DeAngelis
Producer/Host
Stephen DeAngelis has produced and created over 300 different Broadway concerts at venues in New York and across the United States featuring a multitude of Broadway stars including many Tony Award and Drama Desk Award winners and nominees, stars from hit television series and films whose roots are on stage and Broadway’s fastest rising young performers. Throughout his career, he has worked with over 100,000 performers across all entertainment mediums. He is also the Producer and Host of At This Performance…, the critically acclaimed concert series that has showcased the talents and versatility of over 1250 Broadway Standbys, Understudies and Alternates since October 2003. His work as a Producer of the ongoing series and monthly residency was acknowledged in Broadway World’s List of “Best Club, Cabaret and Concert” which they called “an artistic triumph that everyone should seek out and see”. His contributions and creativity were recently recognized and celebrated with a panel at BroadwayCon 2024. Stephen is a member of the Association of Professional Arts Professionals. He has cast over 3600 network television and radio commercials for Manhattan’s leading advertising agencies (including Grey Advertising/Senior Casting Director, Back, Spielvogel & Bates. Inc, Ted Bates Advertising and Ogilvy & Mather) for such clients as Olive Garden, Red Lobster E*Trader, Febreze, Cover Girl, Pantene, Advil, Robitussin, Downy, Flonase, Pringles, Gillette, Canon, Domino’s, Ivory, Campbell’s Soup, Xerox, Maybelline, Wendy’s, Arrid, Miller Beer, Colgate, Palmolive, Warmer Lambert, Hewlett Packard and Direct TV and has contributed to many historic award-winning spots and campaigns including many which have been recognized with Platinum, Gold and Silver Lions at Cannes. Stephen also cast the six-time Emmy Award nominated Playhouse Disney series “Johnny and the Sprites” which aired on the Disney Channel. His work has been seen in New York and regionally in over 300 theatrical productions as well as numerous festival showcases, developmental workshops and staged readings. Other credits include the World AIDS Day All-Star concert revivals of Pippin and The Secret Garden, two All-Star production of Elegies for Angels, Pinks and Raging Queens and the 25th Anniversary production of Hair, the All-Star concert version of Into the Woods, the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Tommy album as well as numerous productions for The Drama League Directors Project. He is a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and is the only Casting Director who is also a member in SDC. He has staged musicals in major theatres across the country in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Dallas, and St. Louis and throughout New York and New England. He has worked with Actors, Singers, Dancers, Directors, Choreographers, Composers, Lyricists and Playwrights who has been recognized with the following distinctions: 271 Tony Award wins, 899 Tony Award nominations, 270 Drama Desk Award wins, 1014 Drama Desk Award, nominations, 34 Drama League Award wins, 299 Drama League Award nominations, 202 Primetime Emmy Award wins, 862 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, 133 Daytime Emmy Award wins, 492 Daytime Emmy Award nominations, 17 Sports Emmy wins, 24 Sports Emmy nominations, 53 Academy Award wins, 160 Academy Award nominations, 23 Olivier Award wins, 80 Olivier Award nominations, 147 Grammy Award wins, 476 Grammy Award nominations, 111 Golden Globe Award wins, 370 Golden Globe Award nominations, 5 Pulitzer Price recipients, 8 Pulitzer Prize Award recipients and 8 Kennedy Center Award recipients. Stephen has been named as Producing Artistic Director of the new Pocono Center for the Arts which is scheduled to open in 2025. He is also committed to use his abilities, relationships and creativity in support of numerous charities including Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA), The Actors Fund (now the Entertainment Community Fund), The Starlight Children’s Foundation, The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, Give Kids the World and Toys of Hope/The American Giving Project. Early is his career, he performed in the National Tours of Godspell, Grease, Shenandoah and Hair and was the first Producing Artistic Director of the Shawnee Playhouse in the Poconos.
Eugene Gwozdz
Musical Director/Accompanist
Eugene Gwozdz, from Fort Worth, Texas, now based in New York city, is a Broadway Music Director/Pianist/Arranger/Orchestrator, and is considered one of Broadway’s top pianists. Eugene is Music Director for the prestigious American Dance Machine 21; he has been Music Director/Pianist/Arranger for Tony Award Winners Anika Noni Rose, Donna McKechnie, and Cady Huffman. He also helped Ms. Rose learn her Princess Tiana music for Disney’s animated film classic, “The Princess and the Frog”. Eugene is Music Supervisor/Music Director/Arranger for the new Dolly Parton musical, Here You Come Again!, which is currently a big hit in England; and he helped out in the creation of Spamilton, the Forbidden Broadway spoof of Hamilton. He has worked with many prominent Broadway stars including Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mandy Gonzalez, Norbert Leo Butz, James Monroe Iglehart, Adrianna Hicks, Stephanie J. Block, Patti Lupone, Chita Rivera, Leslie Uggams, Andre DeShields, Lee Roy Reams, Patrick Wilson, Billy Porter, Shirley Jones, Betty Buckley, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Will Chase, LaChanze, Nikki James, Victoria Clark, Kelli O’Hara, Andrea McArdle, Chris Seiber, Norm Lewis, Megan Hilty, Kristin Chenowith, Valisia Lekae, John Tartaglia, Laura Benanti, Melissa Errico, Karen Ziemba, Nita Whitaker, N’Kenge, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Laura Bell Bundy, to name a few.
Honoree
Dr. Bonnie Helfner
SYJCC Community Member, Commack Business Owner and Stage 74 Alumni Parent.
Being an avid supporter of the arts came at a young age for this future dentist, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and theatre-mom. Very much like her talented daughter Dara, Dr. Bonnie Helfner, was also a chorus and theatre kid growing up, lighting up the stage at Commack High School South. She performed in popular musicals such as Hello Dolly, Oklahoma, and Bye Bye Birdie, and was selected to sing with the SCMEA choirs while also pushing her musical limits at the NYSSMA Music Festivals throughout her high school years.
A few short years after graduating from the prestigious University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Helfner ventured out into the business world to open a dental office. Not just anywhere. Bonnie wanted to remain in the Commack/Dix Hills community she’s called home since the age of 13. Ever since then, Bonnie wanted nothing more than to give back to her beloved community. Since 1997, Dr. Helfner and her office have been involved in many forms of “giving back,” including providing free dental care for needy families, volunteering her time to give dental presentations to the children in Commack’s primary and intermediate schools, establishing an annual scholarship for Commack High School seniors, and participating in the Commack High School Shadowing Program, to name just a few. Bonnie has been recognized as one of Commack High School’s Alumni of Distinction for her many efforts in reaching out to her community, improving the dental health and quality of life of the people who seek her professional services, and for her ongoing generosity, compassion, and humanity.
For more than a decade, Dr. Helfner has been very involved at the Suffolk Y in many different capacities – from painting sets for onstage productions and volunteering as an assistant stage manager, to providing generous donations to Stage 74 and holding a Suffolk Y Board Member position. She has enjoyed serving and learning from each and every one of these experiences.
Bonnie lives in Dix Hills with her husband Mike Gordon and their son and daughter, Drew and Dara. She loves spending time with her family, particularly during the months from March until October (hopefully), where you can find her watching and rooting for the Mets, screaming at the top of her lungs along with her son, Drew.
Bonnie has touched the lives of so many people, and anyone who has crossed her path, knows how lucky they are. She takes great pride in her many endeavors and accomplishments, and remains enthusiastic about continuing to fill her life with a sense of purpose, serving her community as a dental health professional, and realizing the bright fulfillment of her many hopes and dreams.
Ticket Information
Early Bird Tickets: (show only) $75 until October 1, 2024
Regular Ticket Price: October 2, 2024 $90
VIP Tickets $150 (includes one ticket to Broadway Ball, Toast to the stars, meet & greet, open bar and lite bites)
To purchase tickets, please
Become a Sponsor
Sponsor the Broadway Ball and get the benefit of the whole season!
Our 2024/2025 Season Includes:
9 to 5, Willy Wonka Jr., The Prom, A Few Good Men, Alice in Wonderland Jr., and Once Upon a Mattress
Sponsorship Opportunities:
Executive Producer Sponsorship: $15,000 (Includes fifteen (15) VIP tickets to the Broadway Ball)
Includes fifteen (15) house seats for every production in the current season, listing as lead sponsor on communications, banner displayed in lobby & on stage, recognition in pre-performance presentation, ad placed on inside front cover of Playbill & prominent placement on the Broadway Ball web page. Social media promotion & listing in the Buzz, our weekly electronic publication.
Producer Sponsorship:$10,000 (Includes ten (10) VIP tickets to the Broadway Ball)
Includes ten (10) house seats for every production in the current season, listing as event sponsor on pre-event communications, banner displayed in lobby, recognition in pre-performance presentation & prominent full page in Playbill. Social media promotion & listing in the Buzz, our weekly electronic publication.
Director Sponsorship: $5,000 (Includes eight (8) VIP tickets to the Broadway Ball)
Includes eight (8) house seats for every production in the current season, listing as event sponsor on pre-event communications, recognition in pre-performance presentation & half page in Playbill. Listing in the Buzz, our weekly electronic publication.
The Star Sponsorship: $2,500 (Includes four (4) tickets to the Broadway Ball, show only)
Includes four (4) house seats for every production in the current season, recognition in pre-performance presentation & quarter page ad in Playbill. Listing in the Buzz, our weekly electronic publication.
The Cast Sponsorship: $1,000 (Includes two (2) VIP tickets to the Broadway Ball)
Includes two (2) house seats for every production in the current season, recognition in pre-performance presentation & business card size ad in Playbill.
Stage Manager Sponsorship: $500 (Includes two (2) VIP ticket to the Broadway Ball)
Recognition in pre-performance presentation & business card size ad in Playbill.
To become a sponsor, please fill out form below
