Tony Award-Winner Beth Leavel to Co-Host 17th Annual THE COLUMN Awards

Garland, Texas, January 7, 2016 — Tickets will be available beginning January 18, 10 a.m. for the 17^th Annual THE COLUMN Awards Gala, co-hosted by one of Broadway’s brightest stars, Tony Award-winner Beth Leavel. THE COLUMN Awards Gala will be held on Sunday, February 21, 8 p.m. at the Granville Arts Center in Downtown Garland, TX. A pre-show, VIP reception will begin at 7 p.m.

THE COLUMN Awards is the only awards organization in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex that honors excellence in theater, both in equity and non-equity. It also uses the annual gala as a fundraiser for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, holding the honor as the only awards organization in the United States to do so. Since THE COLUMN Awards’ inception, it has raised over $100,000 for BCEFA.

            Ms. Leavel received Tony, Drama Desk, NY Outer Critics Circle and L.A. Drama Critics Awards for her performance as the title character in the mega-hit musical, The Drowsy Chaperone. Beth also received a Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle nomination for her role as Florence Greenberg in Baby It’s You. She has performed the roles of Dolly in Hello Dolly at Cape Playhouse, Sally Adams in Call Me Madam at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias at the North Carolina Theatre, and Berthe in Boeing-Boeing at the Paper Mill Playhouse.  Other Broadway roles: Emily in Elf, Donna in Mamma Mia!, Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein, Dorothy Brock in the revival of 42nd Street, Tess in the original company of Crazy For You, Mrs. Bixby in The Civil War, Ellie in Hal Prince’s Showboat, and Anytime Annie (her Broadway debut) in 42nd Street. Ms. Leavel was also seen as Lucille in New York City Center Encores! production of No, No, Nanette, and has had roles in numerous Off-Broadway and regional theatre productions, commercials, and television shows, including the final episode of ER.

            From New York, Ms. Leavel stated, “I am so very honored, delighted and tickled to be joining my Dallas/Fort Worth sisters and brothers for THE COLUMN Awards! Woo hoo!! It is guaranteed to be a night of celebration, song and laughs!!…and all benefiting an organization near and dear to my heart…BCEFA! Who knows…there maybe a little “Stumble Along” before the night is over…the possibilities are endless…..See you then!”

            John Garcia (Executive Director/Producer/Founder of THE COLUMN Awards) stated, “Ever since I saw her slay the audience in laughter on Broadway in The Drowsy Chaperone, I knew we just had to have her as our guest star! And her Tony award acceptance speech is one of the greatest speeches ever given! Having seen her also in interviews, she is just so hilarious and quick witted. That is the perfect combo platter for our gala audience! Our audience will see this Broadway treasure perform live, and bring so much laughter to our evening! My board of directors and I are just bursting with thrilling excitement on having this Tony Award-winning star come to THE COLUMN Awards Gala! It will be a fantastic evening for sure!”

Tickets can be purchased online at GarlandArtsBoxOffice.com, by phone at 972-205-2790, or in-person at the Granville Arts Center Box Office, open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and open on the night of the THE COLUMN Awards Gala. Ticket prices are $25 for the ceremony/show at 8 p.m. VIP tickets are $50, and include a pre-show reception to meet Ms. Beth Leavel at 7 p.m., as well as food, wine, and a ticket to the ceremony at 8 p.m.