Arts Ignite has revealed the performers and presenters for their 20th Anniversary Gala event, Illuminate. Held October 12 at City Winery NYC, the evening will celebrate Danielle Brooks, Whitney White, and Tom Viola.
Hosted by Jessica Vosk (Beaches), featured performers will include Tony nominee Charles Busch (The Tale Of The Allergist’s Wife), Aneesa Folds and Kaila Mullady (freestyle+), Mandy Gonzalez (Hamilton), Kayla Davion (Liberation), Brandon Victor Dixon (Hell’s Kitchen), and Grammy-winning duo ARKAI. Presenters will include Tony winners Joaquina Kalukango (Paradise Square), Bess Wohl (Liberation), and Mary-Mitchell Campbell.
The Arts Ignite House Band will feature Alex Eckhardt on bass and Rich Mercurio on drums, with Campbell on piano and serving as music director.
Earlier this year, Mary-Mitchell Campbell, president and founder of Arts Ignite, received the 2026 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award, recognizing her decades-long commitment to advocacy and humanitarian work through the arts. “Twenty years ago, we created Arts Ignite with a simple belief: Access to the arts can change the trajectory of a young person’s life,” said Campbell. “Our 20th Anniversary Gala will honor three extraordinary individuals who inspire, and commend dozens of artists, educators, students and supporters who’ve made that work possible. Illuminate will highlight what we can accomplish—together—in the next 20 years.”
Illuminate is produced by Joy Huang and directed by Jonathan Bernstein and Dick Scanlan.