On March 16, 2026, Signature Theatre, a Tony Award-winning regional theater in Virginia, will honor Vanessa Williams with its fifteenth Stephen Sondheim Award. This special tribute will take place at a black-tie Gala Benefit held at The Anthem in Washington, DC. The event will benefit Signature Theatre’s artistic, educational, and community initiatives. Among the featured performers honoring Williams will be Academy Award winner Ariana DeBose, Broadway star Solea Pfeiffer, and host Michael Urie, alongside additional celebrated artists Norm Lewis, Nancy Anderson, Mark G. Meadows, Nova Y. Payton, and Awa Sal Secka.
Vanessa Williams’ Impact on American Musical Theater Celebrated
The Stephen Sondheim Award Gala annually recognizes figures who have profoundly influenced American musical theater, especially those associated with Stephen Sondheim’s work. This year’s honoree, Vanessa Williams, is renowned across music, theater, television, and film. Williams earned a Tony Award nomination for her role as the Witch in the 2002 Broadway revival of Into the Woods, directed by James Lapine, the 2015 Stephen Sondheim Award recipient. Williams also performed in the original 2010 Broadway production of Sondheim on Sondheim and recently starred in the 2022 MasterVoices concert of Anyone Can Whistle at Carnegie Hall. Known broadly for her Emmy-nominated portrayal of Wilhelmina Slater in ABC’s Ugly Betty, Williams currently stars in the original West End production of The Devil Wears Prada.
Details on the Gala Event and Performers
The 2026 Stephen Sondheim Award Presentation will be hosted at The Anthem, located at 901 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC. Doors open at 6 PM, with the award ceremony beginning at 6:30 PM. Tickets for performance-only admission are priced at $75 and can be purchased through Signature Theatre’s website. Those interested in table sponsorships can contact the Development office via email.
Along with Ariana DeBose and Solea Pfeiffer, the performance lineup includes Norm Lewis, known for roles in Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables; Michael Urie of Ugly Betty and Apple TV+’s Shrinking; Nancy Anderson, recognized for Sunset Boulevard and Billy Elliot; Mark G. Meadows, a Broadway music director and actor; Nova Y. Payton, whose credits include Into the Woods and The Color Purple; and Awa Sal Secka, a versatile national tour and regional theater performer. These artists will deliver live performances accompanied by Jon Kalbfleisch and Mark G. Meadows during the evening’s tribute.
Ariana DeBose’s Acclaimed Career and Upcoming Projects
Ariana DeBose, celebrated for her powerful stage and screen work, rose to international fame with her role as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, for which she won multiple prestigious awards including an Academy Award. Notably, she is recognized as the first openly queer Afro-Latina to earn an Oscar. DeBose will appear on screen next in the Prime Video series Scarpetta, debuting March 11, 2026, starring alongside Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis. Her upcoming film projects include Lear Rex and Tow, with Tow also marking her role as executive producer. Recent films featuring DeBose include Love Hurts, Argylle, I.S.S., Disney’s centennial animated film Wish, Kraven the Hunter, and House of Spoils.
In addition to her screen successes, DeBose hosted the Tony Awards for three consecutive years and earned Emmy nominations for Outstanding Variety Special in 2023 and 2024. She starred in the musical comedy series SCHMIGADOON! on Apple TV+ and Ryan Murphy’s The Prom on Netflix. On Broadway, her notable credits include a Tony-nominated role as Disco Donna in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical and being part of Hamilton’s original cast, as well as other shows like Pippin, Motown The Musical, Bring It On, and Company. Recently, she completed a run in the off-Broadway show The Baker’s Wife.
Beyond performing, DeBose advocates for homeless LGBTQ youth and serves on the International Board of Covenant House.
Norm Lewis and Other Esteemed Performers Joining the Tribute
Norm Lewis, an Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and SAG Award nominee, has a distinguished career on stage and screen. He recently appeared in the off-Broadway revival of Ceremonies in Dark Old Men and toured nationally with the Tony-winning A Soldier’s Play. Lewis’s West End credits include the Andrew Lloyd Webber concert Love Never Dies, and he was the first African American actor to star as The Phantom in Broadway’s Phantom of the Opera. His television work spans Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods, FX’s Pose, NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert!, and series like The Good Mother, Swarm, and Scandal.
Lewis has consistently supported Black artists through his founding role in Black Theatre United. His numerous Broadway credits extend from Sondheim on Sondheim, Les Misérables, Chicago, and Miss Saigon to The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess, for which he garnered multiple award nominations. Off-Broadway and regional work further demonstrate his versatility and acclaim.
Solea Pfeiffer is another prominent figure participating in the gala, known for her Broadway roles such as Satine in Moulin Rouge and Myrtle in Gatsby at the American Repertory Theatre. She has starred in Hadestown, Ophelia in Shakespeare in the Park‘s Hamlet, and other productions like Almost Famous, Gun & Powder, and The Light in the Piazza. On screen, Pfeiffer appears in Tyler Perry’s Netflix film A Jazzman’s Blues and TV credits including The Good Fight and Scandal.
Michael Urie, celebrated for his role as Marc St. James on Ugly Betty, will host the event. Currently starring in Apple TV+’s Shrinking, Urie earned a 2025 Emmy nomination and Critics Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor. His diverse career includes stage roles in Shakespeare’s Richard II, the Tony-winning Oh, Mary!, and Once Upon a Mattress, alongside television and film appearances including Netflix’s Maestro and the holiday rom-com Single All The Way. Urie also directs, produces, and advocates for LGBTQIA+ voices through initiatives like Pride Plays.
Other Contributors and Artistic Leadership at Signature Theatre
The gala will also highlight performances and support from Nancy Anderson, Mark G. Meadows, Nova Y. Payton, and Awa Sal Secka, each with deep ties to Signature Theatre and Broadway. Anderson is recognized for her varied Broadway and regional credits, including Billy Elliot and Kiss Me, Kate. Meadows, a celebrated music director and performer, has contributed to productions such as The Color Purple and Jelly’s Last Jam. Payton and Secka bring extensive experience from Signature and regional theaters with credits in Into the Woods, Ragtime, Play On!, and national tours.
Signature Theatre, led by Managing Director Maggie Boland and Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner, is known for its bold musical productions and dedication to new works. Since 1989, the theater has premiered 61 new works and produced 20 new musical commissions, attracting over 100,000 attendees annually. Its commitment to educating young audiences includes the award-winning Signature in the Schools program. Signature has earned 148 Helen Hayes Awards and 527 nominations, solidifying its status as a vital force in American musical theater.
Legacy and Importance of the Stephen Sondheim Award
Established in 2009, the Stephen Sondheim Award honors those who have made significant contributions to American musical theater and engaged deeply with Sondheim’s legacy. Past honorees include legends such as Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone, Harold Prince, Audra McDonald, Carol Burnett, Chita Rivera, Nathan Lane, and Mandy Patinkin. Signature Theatre has produced 35 Sondheim productions—the most of any theater nationwide. This ongoing recognition emphasizes the lasting influence of Sondheim’s work and supports companies like Signature dedicated to his artistic vision.
Significance of the Gala and Anticipated Impact
The 2026 Gala marks a pivotal moment to celebrate Vanessa Williams’ dynamic career and contributions, reflecting her versatility across musical theater, television, and film. The participation of renowned performers like Ariana DeBose and Norm Lewis underscores the event’s prominence within the theatrical community. Beyond honoring a celebrated artist, the gala advances Signature Theatre’s mission to foster artistic excellence and community engagement. The funds raised will sustain Signature’s educational outreach and new works development, contributing to the future vitality of American musical theater.
As the theatrical world continues to evolve, events like this gala serve as essential platforms for honoring trailblazers and inspiring emerging artists while connecting audiences with the rich heritage and contemporary relevance of musical theater.
