By Audrey J. Bernard

Here’s a history question for New Yorkers. Did you know that the Gracie Mansion Conservancy was established to preserve, maintain, enhance and enliven Gracie Mansion where sitting mayors of New York City and their families have called home since 1942. It is still one of the oldest surviving wood structures in Manhattan and the home for NYC mayors. The first sitting Mayor to call it home was Mayor LaGuardia and his family. Home sweet home.

On Wednesday, June 30, 2021, the stewards of The People’s House presented its 2021 Virtual Gala at Gracie Mansion at 6:00 PM ET which was hosted by Tony Award Nominee Sheryl Lee Ralph. This one-of-a-kind evening – themed “Raising the Curtain: Theater Is Back!” – was a fabulous celebration of Broadway, the heartbeat of New York City. Yes, baby – Broadway is Back and Bigger, Better and more Beautiful than ever!

The 2021 Gracie Mansion Conservancy Gala, hosted by Broadway’s original Deena Jones from Dreamgirls, Tony Award nominee, producer, and AIDS activist, Ms. Sheryl Lee Ralph (in the 40th Anniversary year of Dreamgirls), featured premiere performances and appearances from the upcoming Thoughts of a Colored Man from playwright Keenan Scott II and director Steve H. Broadnax III; the Co-Chair of the American Theatre Wing, Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, three-time Obie Award winner, and three-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, David Henry Hwang; from the upcoming much-anticipated revival of Company, Bobby Conte Thornton; from the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Dear Evan Hansen, Jessica Phillips; and from the brand-new musical Swept Away, having its premiere at Berkeley Rep next year, John Gallagher, Jr.; and Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, the composer of the longest-running show in Broadway history.

During the jubilant celebration, Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell was presented the Key to the City for his work as Chairman of The Actors Fund which has raised over $22 million to support over 40,000 out-of-work theater and entertainment professionals during the COVID pandemic. In addition, a silent auction featured artists exhibited in the Gracie Mansion public rooms since 2019 in the shows She Persists: A Century of Women Artists in New York, 1919-2019 and CATALYST: Art and Social Justice. Proceeds of the evening will benefit the Gracie Mansion Conservancy and The Actors Fund.

The 2021 Virtual Gala creative team included Paul McGill, (Director) Harry McFann (Director of Photography), Eliza Anastasio (original music), and Rick Miramontez and Matthew Troillett (Producers). Susan Goulet served as Production