THE LION KING's Alton Fitzgerald WhiteStar To Headline TN Shakespeare Gala

Tennessee Shakespeare Company today announced Alton Fitzgerald White - Broadway's record-setting Mufasa in The Lion King and powerhouse star of Broadway's The Color Purple, Ragtime, Miss Saigon, Smokey Joe's Café, and The Who's Tommy - as its headliner for the 10th Annual Gala. The gala celebrates 11 years of Shakespeare performance and education in the Mid-South. The annual event will take place on Saturday, March 30 at 6 p.m. at the Hilton Memphis located at 939 Ridge Lake Blvd. in Memphis.

White will perform a special, one-hour show as the gala centerpiece. He will sing selections from past Broadway shows in which he has appeared, hits from the classical Disney songbook and favorite standards from other award-winning musicals. Guests will also enjoy a lavish buffet dinner and cocktails; an Elizabethan Midway featuring games, costumes, photo booths and opportunities to act with TSC performers; live and silent auctions; and a drawing for "The Broadway Weekend Trip for Two" to New York City.

Three seating packages - Platinum for $5,000, Gold for $2,500 and Silver for $1,500 - offer tiered benefits, including dinner for up to 10 guests with preferred seating and a tax-deductible gift. Platinum sponsor packages include an exclusive invitation to meet White at a private dinner party the night prior on Friday, March 29. Both Platinum and Gold packages include sponsor recognition, an exclusive commemorative event gift and a post-performance dessert reception for guests to privately meet and take photos with White. More information on package benefits can be found at www.tnshakespeare.org/gala-2019. Packages are available upon request by calling Tennessee Shakespeare Company's gala coordinator Stephanie Shine at 901-759-0620.

Single tickets are available for $100 until Feb. 21 and will go up to $125 after that date. Single tickets can be purchased at www.tnshakespeare.org or by calling TSC's box office at 901-759-0604.

All proceeds benefit Tennessee Shakespeare Company's innovative Education Program.

Photo Credit: Dennis Johnston Photography