The Civilians Honor High Line Co-Founder Robert Hammond Tonight

Renowned investigative theatre company The Civilians celebrates its 2011-2012 season with the presentation of its first ever Civilian of the Year Award. The Civilians will honor Robert Hammond, co-founder of The High Line, at its 2012 Benefit tonight, April 23rd, at the Highline BallrooM. Hammond will be fêted by the company's Associate Artists as well as additional stage and screen stars in a one-night-only performance of interviews and songs by Michael J. Friedman (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson) about Hammond and the creation of The High Line, put together in The Civilians' signature investigative style. Interviewees for this unique performance include Amanda Burden (Director of the Department of City Planning), Florent Morellet (Restaurant Owner), and Bronson Van Wyck (Event Planner).

The performance will also feature favorite Civilians songs and scenes from past shows, as well as material from current projects. The annual party will take place tonight, April 23rd, beginning at 7:00pm at one of New York City's hottest new cultural venues, The Highline Ballroom (431 W. 16th Street). Steven Cosson, Artistic Director of The Civilians, directs.

Tony nominees John Ellison Conlee (The Full Monty) and Daniel Jenkins (Billy Elliot) join The Civilians Associate Artists Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Matthew Dellapina, Dan Domingues, Daoud Heidami, Nina Hellman, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Kelly McCreary, Greg McFadden, Caitlin Miller, Jennifer R. Morris, Maria Elena Ramirez, Jeanine Serralles, Robbie Collier Sublett, and Sam Breslin Wright. The evening kicks off with hors d'oeuvres and a cocktail hour followed by the one-night-only performance.

Additional special guests to be announced.

The Highline Committee for the 2012 Benefit includes Christopher and Jean Angell, Michael Cerveris, Henry and Kathleen Chalfant, Scott Delman, Erica Dixon and Sean Hagerty, Mamie Gummer and Benjamin Walker, Jessica and Matt Harris, Logan Marshall-Green, Benjamin Millepied and Natalie Portman, José Rivera, Beverly Morris and John Bergman.

Previous Civilians events have attracted such celebrities as Academy Award-winner Marisa Tomei, Emily Mortimer, Broadway's Karen Ziemba, Celia Keenan-Bolger, and Mary Testa, among others.

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