Broadway Producer Daryl Roth to Receive Town Hall Friend of the Arts Award

It was announced today that legendary soul singer Roberta Flack and leading theatrical producer Daryl Roth will receive the Town Hall 2017 Friend of the Arts Award. The award has been given annually since 1981 to individuals and institutions who, through their talents, efforts, and support of the arts, have contributed to the forward progress of our culture.

The award presentation will take place at a dinner capping the 96th Annual Town Hall Gala Celebration on Sunday, October 22. The celebration will begin earlier that day at 3pm with a concert at Town Hall. Cocktails, dinner, and the award presentation will follow the concert at the Princeton Club. Admission to the dinner and award presentation is by invitation only to the Town Hall Family of Sustaining Members, other major contributors, and guests.

Flack is best known for her No. 1 singles "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", "Killing Me Softly With His Song," and "Feel Like Makin' Love", as well as "Where Is the Love" and "The Closer I Get to You," two of her many duets with Donny Hathaway.

Roth is a multi-Tony Award-winning Broadway producer and has produced more than 110 shows both on and off-Broadway. Some of her award-winning productions include Kinky Boots, Anna in the Tropics, August: Osage County, Caroline, or Change, Clybourne Park, Curtains, Edward Albee’s The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?, How I Learned to Drive, The Humans, Indecent, and many more.

The 2017 Gala concert will also mark the debut of the Town Hall Ensemble, a big band featuring some of New York City’s greatest musicians and composers, led by renowned trumpeter and bandleader Steven Bernstein. The inaugural performance will celebrate the origins of the hall and feature special guest musicians, artists, poets, and writers.