The Only Make Believe Gala Honored Anna Wintour and the Power of Theater

The gala celebrated Dame Anna Wintour, who received the James Hammerstein Award; Adam Meshel, Head of Legal at Citi, honored with the Founders Award for his extensive dedication to the organization; and program participants Shenoda Saeed and King Monroe from the Harry Moore School. Shenoda, now 15, has been performing with Only Make Believe since he was four, sharing his passion for dance on stage. Before leaving the spotlight, he made sure the audience gave him a thunderous ovation, taking his bow with a big smile.

Following statements from Executive Director Tamela Aldridge and Director of Programming Christopher Wilson, the night featured performances by Chris Jackson, who wowed the crowd with “Feelin’ Good”; Josh Groban, delivering a heartfelt rendition of “Bridge Over Troubled Water”; Brad Oscar singing a powerful number from the lesser-known 1969 musical Coco, created by Andre Previn; a dazzling dance performance from the contemporary opera Fire Shut Up in My Bones, choreographed by the talented Camille A. Brown; and a captivating duet of “Suddenly Seymour” by Darren Criss and Lena Hall. A memorable moment of the night was a poignant performance of “Dear Bill,” a ballad from Operation Mincemeat by Jak Malone, specifically requested by Wintour.

Before Wintour took the stage, she was introduced by the married duo director Sam Gold and playwright Amy Herzog, prominent figures on Broadway. They collaborated on the recent adaptation of Enemy of the People, while Herzog authored the moving Mary Jane, which delves into the challenges faced by a mother caring for her ill child. Their all-time favorite performance took place in a children’s wing of a hospital where their daughter was receiving treatment, featuring a “definitely unlicensed” version of Frozen by the physical therapy team. Costumes seemed sourced from a Halloween store, yet “these PTs were giving it their all,” Herzog humorously recalled. “And as theater professionals, we really wanted to say to them…”

“Don’t quit your day jobs,” Gold concluded with a jest. On a serious note, he emphasized, “We can assure you that the joy cultivated through theater by Only Make Believe profoundly impacts sick and disabled children, as well as their families.”

This impact was echoed by Wintour when she took the stage, reflecting on her childhood experience of seeing Sir Laurence Olivier in Coriolanus at Stratford. “Witnessing him in that role,” Wintour expressed, “captivated me for life.” She highlighted that “theater is the most instinctive art form for a young person’s imagination—and indeed, a source of hope for them.”

“Being here with all of you tonight fills me with hope,” Wintour continued, “for joy and community for a generation of children facing tough circumstances in challenging times. It buoyed my spirits regarding the future of this remarkable art. If theater is to persist and flourish in the coming decades, it may very well be thanks to a new generation—the children of today—who recognize the stage as a vital human instrument.”