Thank you all for taking the time to support Amas Musical Theatre and supporting Rosetta's dream of bringing people of all colors and backgrounds together through musical theatre, and to bring theatre arts skills to inner-city youth. Congratulations to everyone who:

• placed a winning bid
• generously donated an item for auction
• invited family, friends and community to make their bid to build a better world

The online auction is now closed for bidding and our live event on March 31, 2008 was a Huge Success.

Friends and supporters of Amas Musical Theatre, New York City's award-winning pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since 1968, gathered to celebrate at our Fifth Annual "Blast from the Past" Gala Benefit.

Founded by actress and visionary Rosetta LeNoire (1911-2002), Amas ("you love" in Latin) is devoted to the creation, development and professional production of new American musicals through the celebration of diversity and minority perspectives, the emergence of new artistic talent, and the training and encouragement of inner-city young people. In recent years, under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Donna Trinkoff, Amas has emerged as a leading not-for-profit laboratory for new musicals, including Wanda's World, Shout! The Mod Musical, Lone Star Love, From My Hometown, Zanna, Don't!, Four Guys Named Jose, and Stormy Weather: Imagining Lena Horne (starring Leslie Uggams), to name only a few.

The evening features a concert performance with a star-studded cast of the beloved show, Mama, I Want to Sing, the classic gospel musical that started at Amas almost three decades ago and had a long Off-Broadway run. Mama, I Want to Sing, book and lyrics by Vy Higginsen and Ken Wydro, will play for one performance only at New World Stages on West 50th Street.

Our Special Honoree for the evening is film, theatre and television star Phylicia Rashad who will be on hand to receive The Rosie Award, given to individuals who demonstrate extraordinary accomplishment and dedication in the theatrical arts.

In addition, PricewaterhouseCoopers is being honored as one of the top ten companies for diversity in the United States.

The evening will also bestow the fourth annual Rosetta LeNoire Scholarship of $1,000 to a deserving college-bound student from our theatre arts training program The Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Academy.

Proceeds from our auction event will go specifically to Amas Musical Theatre Education Programs, including the Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Academy, the Immigration Experience for middle and high schools, and Lens on Live Theatre.

For more information visit http://www.amasmusical.org or just click on the Banner at the top of the page.