'Starry Starry Night' Toasts Dominic Missimi's 30 Years at Northwestern

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Northwestern University students, faculty, alumni and theatre professionals from across the country will sing (and a few will dance) the praises of School of Communication theatre faculty member Dominic Missimi's 30 years of service. The star-studded benefit performance also launches the University's new Dominic Missimi Fund for Music Theatre.

The stellar event, "Starry Starry Night," will take place at 8 p.m. Monday, May 24, at Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St., on the University's Evanston campus. The event is open to the public for a minimum donation to the Missimi Fund of $100. For more information, visit http://www.communication.northwestern.edu/missimi/.

The gala will spotlight the talents of many well-known artists and Northwestern alumni, including featured performers Gregg Edelman, star of Broadway's "City of Angels," "Wonderful Town," "1776" and "Les Miserables''; Heather Headley, a Grammy-nominated recording artist and star of Broadway's "Aida" and "The Lion King"; Brian d'Arcy James, star of Broadway's "Time Stands Still" and "Shrek"'; and Kate Shindle, Miss America 1998 and star of the Broadway musical "Legally Blonde."

Other celebrated alumni and star performers who have either studied or worked with Missimi also will appear on stage. They include singer and actress Mary Ernster; Broadway composer Larry Grossman; singer and actress Hollis Resnik; Chicago actress Alene Robertson; director and choreographer Marc Robin; choreographer and Jump Rhythm Jazz Project artistic director Billy Siegenfield; actor Bernie Yvon and many others.

Also appearing on stage May 24 will be members of this year's Waa-Mu production, "Keeping Time," and the cast of the Theatre and Interpretation Center's recent production of "The Who's Tommy."

Dominic Missimi

After 17 years, Missimi is directing his last annual Waa-Mu production this spring, "Keeping Time," which runs through May 9 at Cahn Auditorium. As executive director of the American Music Theatre Project, an incubator for developing new musicals by bringing new and innovative directors, choreographers, actors and stage designers to Northwestern, Missimi represents the future of musical theater. As a Northwestern faculty member, he has helped launch dozens and dozens of successful theater careers and, with others at Northwestern, continues to play an important role in invigorating Chicago's thriving theater scene.

Dominic Missimi Fund for Music Theatre

Northwestern's new Dominic Missimi Fund for Music Theatre will be used for needs of the Music Theatre Program and its students. Funds may be used to assist students participating in the annual Senior Showcase in New York, bring guest artists to campus to work with students, establish a music theatre media library and more. Gifts to the fund are tax deductible. Gifts of $100 and more entitle donors to a seat at the May 24 "Starry Starry Night" benefit performance.

For more information or to make a gift to the Dominic Missimi Fund for Music Theatre, contact Jessica Eggers at (847) 491-4788 or e-mail jessica-eggers@northwestern.edu.

Gifts of any size to the Missimi Fund made by May 7 will be acknowledged in the "Starry Starry Night" program.