Deaf West Theatre is bringing its 35-year legacy of groundbreaking theater to New York City with its first-ever New York gala, celebrating the artists, directors and producers who have helped shape the company’s work.
“The 35th Anniversary Gala – One Night in New York” will take place Monday, September 28, 2026, at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater. The evening will honor Academy Award-winning actor Troy Kotsur, five-time Tony Award-winning producer Eva Price, and Tony Award-winning directors Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch.
Hosted by Barrett Foa, the gala will feature a lineup of performers connected to Deaf West and the broader theater community. The evening’s participants include three-time Tony Award winner Michael Arden, LJ Benet, Daniel Durant, Sandra Mae Frank, Kathryn Gallagher, Tyrone Giordano, Josué Martinez, Tony Award nominee Michael McElroy, Tempress Chasity Moore, James Olivas, Zachary Noah Piser, Alona Jane Robbins, Diego Andres Rodriguez and Alexandria Wailes.
Beginning at 6:30 p.m., the celebration will spotlight Deaf West’s history of innovation, collaboration, education and social change since its founding in 1991. The event also reflects the theater company’s growing presence on the East Coast after establishing its roots in Los Angeles.
That expansion has included the recent world premiere musical “Elephant Shoes,” which concluded its run at Two River Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey. The production became the theater’s best-selling production in its history.
Deaf West also recently presented a developmental concert reading of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Whistle Down the Wind,” reimagined by Tony Award-winning director Bill Rauch. The three-performance engagement served as the final event of New York Stage & Film’s 2026 season.
The company’s New York presence will continue this fall with its co-production of “Love Me,” an immersive theatrical experience from Emmy Award-nominated comedian Drew Michael. The production is scheduled to begin an Off-Broadway run at Soho Playhouse on October 24.
The anniversary gala will be co-directed by Henry Gottfried and Sandra Mae Frank, with music direction by Meghann Zervoulis Bate. Spencer Gualdoni, CSA, will handle casting, while Rico Froehlich will serve as production stage manager.
For Deaf West, the New York celebration marks more than an anniversary milestone. It also provides an opportunity to bring together performers and theater-makers who have been part of the company’s ongoing artistic journey while introducing its work to an expanded East Coast audience.
Tickets for “The 35th Anniversary Gala – One Night in New York” are currently on sale through Deaf West Theatre’s official website.