GiveOur 2026 Annual Gala
May 6th, 2026
George Street Playhouse's 2026 Gala took place on May 6th beginning with a reception at Catherine Lombardi/Stage Left and culminating with a cabaret performance by Rashidra Scott, Lea DeLaria, Tony Yazbeck, Victoria Clark, and Norm Lewis.
GSP and our guests celebrated the 2026 honorees:
- Thomas M. Gorrie
- Emily Mann
- Roberto Muñiz
This unforgettable evening brought together our most passionate supporters for a night of thrilling performances, impactful stories, and a celebration of the people and city that make our work possible.
The 2026 Honorees
George Street Playhouse will honor Thomas M. Gorrie, PhD, a senior global business advisor with extensive worldwide healthcare experience, the prestigious Thomas H. Kean Arts Advocacy Award.
The Thomas H. Kean Arts Advocacy Award honors an individual whose leadership and commitment have strengthened the role of the arts in civic life and championed their impact on community well-being. A dedicated patron of the arts, Dr. Gorrie has been a steadfast advocate for the role of theatre and cultural institutions in fostering dialogue, education, and shared experience. His support of George Street Playhouse and other not-for-profit arts and cultural institutions across the region has helped ensure that world-class artistic work remains accessible to audiences in New Jersey.
Thomas M. Gorrie, PhD is internationally recognized for his distinguished 35-year career at Johnson & Johnson, where he held numerous positions and ultimately served as a Corporate Officer and Vice President of Government Affairs and Policy worldwide. He currently serves as a Trustee for Duke Kunshan University in Kunshan, PRC; is on the Advisory Board of Duke Global Health Institute; is a Distinguished Executive in Residence and Adjunct Professor at the Rutgers Business School; is a Senior Advisor to the China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investments in China; is chair of the Board of Trustees of the Vail Health System in Colorado; and is on the board of the Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Colorado. His service on numerous boards, including leadership roles with Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, The Hun School, Duke University and Duke University Health System, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, reflects a lifelong commitment to sustaining organizations that enrich public life.
George Street Playhouse will honor Emily Mann, playwright and former artistic director of McCarter Theatre Center, with the Arthur Laurents Award for Distinguished Artistic Achievement. It will be only the third time the award has been handed out.
The Arthur Laurents Award for Distinguished Artistic Achievement honors an individual whose career exemplifies artistic excellence, leadership, and a deep commitment to the transformative power of theatre. Past recipients are Marlo Thomas and David Saint.
Emily Mann's groundbreaking body of work and visionary leadership have reshaped American theatre for more than five decades. She led McCarter Theatre for 30 years, won a Tony as its Artistic Director, and is also a Tony-nominated playwright and director for her work Having Our Say.
George Street Playhouse will honor Roberto Muñiz, President and CEO of Parker Health Group, with the prestigious Thomas H. Kean Arts Advocacy Award.
The Thomas H. Kean Arts Advocacy Award honors an individual whose leadership and commitment have strengthened the role of the arts in civic life and championed their impact on community well-being. Through his visionary leadership at Parker Health Group, Roberto Muñiz has demonstrated an unwavering belief that the arts are essential to building healthier, more connected communities.
Roberto Muñiz has helped guide the evolution of Parker Health Group since 1998, transforming the organization from two small nursing homes into a nationally recognized, fully integrated system of care serving more than 16,000 older adults and families annually. Under his leadership, Parker pioneered New Jersey’s first small-home model of nursing home care, expanded home and community-based services, and strengthened strategic partnerships advancing innovation in senior health statewide. Muñiz will retire at the end of 2026 after nearly three decades of leadership and continues to mentor future leaders as a Senior Health Fellow and Instructor at Rutgers University.
