Dallas, TX (June 7, 2018) - After much anticipation, Dallas Summer Musicals (DSM) has finally revealed the talent lineup for its unforgettable annual Gala, An Evening with the Best of Broadway. At a launch party held this week, 2018 DSM Gala Co-Chairs Cara Owens and John Clutts unveiled, to much excitement, a talented trifecta of performers for the event, including notable actors Jane Lynch and Matthew Morrison, famed for their work in the musical-comedy television series Glee and renowned Broadway performer Shoshana Bean. Surprise special guests, to be announced at a later date, will join the star-studded lineup for a spectacular evening of Broadway.

“We are ecstatic to announce this lineup of powerhouse names set to perform at the 2018 DSM Gala,” said Owens. “Jane Lynch, Matthew Morrison and Shoshana Bean all possess an exceptional breadth of talent that will wow every guest in attendance,” agreed Clutts.

The 2018 DSM Gala lineup showcases three artists who have each risen through the ranks to achieve their independent success. These versatile performers have garnered immeasurable success and recognition through their work on Broadway and in the television, film and music industries.

Lynch, who will serve as the event’s emcee, is renowned for her comedic timing and versatile range. She is best known for starring alongside Morrison in the hit television show Glee as the one-liner powerhouse coach “Sue Sylvester”. For her role as Sylvester, Lynch won numerous awards, including the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress, Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. In addition to her role on Glee, Lynch has garnered a long list of film and television credits, including roles in Julie & Julia, The Three Stooges, Talladega Nights and more. Lynch made her Broadway debut in 2013 as “Miss Hannigan” in a production of Annie.

Morrison has also accumulated a vast collection of reputable career spotlights, receiving his big break after winning the role of “Link Larkin” in 2002 the original Broadway cast of Hairspray. He was nominated for a Tony® Award for his role in The Light in the Piazza and most recently appeared on Broadway as “J.M. Barrie” in Finding Neverland for which he received two Drama Desk Award nominations. His other Broadway credits include roles in Footloose, 10 Million Miles and the Tony® Award-winning revival of South Pacific. Alongside Lynch, Morrison rose to fame for his role as glee club director “Will Schuester” in Glee.

Bean is highly regarded in the Broadway community for her varied and versatile performances. She is best known for being the first to take over the role of “Elphaba” in the original Broadway production of Wicked, following the departure of Idina Menzel. Her most recent Broadway credits include “Fanny Brice” in Funny Girl and “Cee-Cee Bloom” in the new musical adaptation of Beaches, for which she earned a Jeff Award nomination for Best Lead Actress in a Musical. Bean has lent her voice to countless films and television shows and her four independent solo albums have all topped the iTunes charts, with her latest album Spectrum landing at #1 on the Billboard Jazz Charts.

An Evening with the Best of Broadway is an annual celebration of DSM and the magic of musical theatre. Proceeds will support the non-profit Dallas Summer Musicals’ mission to bring the very best of Broadway to North Texas and its education and community programs. DSM brings the beauty of musical theatre to many through programs such as DSM High School Musical Theatre Awards, Seats for Vets, Seats for Kids, Kid’s Club, Hear Us Now!^™ and the DSM Community Performance.

Guests will enjoy an incredible culinary experience, luxury auction items and an unforgettable evening of musical entertainment. This will be a wonderful opportunity to indulge in everything you love about Broadway and the DSM experience at the historic Music Hall at Fair Park.

Gala giving opportunities are available online at www.DallasSummerMusicals.org. For more information please call the DSM Development office at 214-426-6333.

About Dallas Summer Musicals:

For more than 75 years, the non-profit Dallas Summer Musicals Inc. (DSM) has presented the very best in Broadway to North Texas audiences. Located in the historic Music Hall at Fair Park, DSM promotes excellence in live musical theatre with year-round performances for diverse audiences of all ages, impacting the lives of children and families through education and community outreach programs, while enriching the cultural landscape of North Texas and the Southwest Region.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to offer affordable ticket prices, preserve the beautiful historic theatre, educate young audiences and develop impactful community programs.

DSM gratefully acknowledges the support of our season sponsors, annual fund donors and corporate partners American Airlines, Texas Instruments, The Dallas Morning News, and WFAA TV Channel 8. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, please call 214.421.5678 or visit our website at DallasSummerMusicals.org.

About Jane Lynch:

Jane Lynch was raised near Chicago and cut her theatrical teeth at The Second City and Steppenwolf Theatre. Lynch is the two-time Emmy winning host of Hollywood Game Night and an Emmy and Golden Globe winner for her portrayal of “Sue Sylvester” on Glee. She currently appears in The Good Fight on CBS and on Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Additional television credits include portraying Janet Reno in Manifesto, Criminal Minds, Portlandia, Angel From Hell, Party Down, Lovespring International, Two and a Half Men, and The L Word. Lynch’s film credits include Wreck It Ralph I and II, The Three Stooges, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Talladega Nights, Role Models, Julie & Julia, A Mighty Wind, Best In Show, and For Your Consideration.

She made her Broadway debut in the 2013 production of Annie, and soon thereafter embarked on her own live concert tour, See Jane Sing, with Kate Flannery and Tim Davis. Their Billboard Top 10 holiday album, A Swingin' Little Christmas is available from iTunes, Amazon and other outlets.

About Matthew Morrison:

Matthew Morrison is a versatile actor who is recognized for his work on-stage and on-screen. He has been nominated for Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe Awards.

Morrison most recently starred as “J.M Barrie” in Finding Neverland through January, 2016. The Broadway production is an adaptation of the 2004 film written by David Magee. The story follows the relationship between Barrie and the Davies family, who became the author’s inspiration for the creation of Peter Pan. Morrison received two Drama Desk nominations for his role, and won the category of Favorite Actor in a Musical in the Broadway.com Audience Awards.

In addition to his Broadway tenure in 2016, Morrison performed as a guest star on the CBS hit show The Good Wife, where he played the role of U.S. Attorney, “Conor Fox” through the series finale.

In 2015, Morrison wrapped the final season of Fox’s musical comedy series Glee, where he starred as the director of the glee club, “Mr. Schuester.” The show was created by Ryan Murphy and received the Golden Globe award “Best Television Series – Comedy or Musical” in 2010 and 2011.

In June, 2013, Morrison released his latest studio album, Where It All Began, which is a Broadway standards record that was produced by the legendary Phil Ramone. Prior to this album, Morrison released his debut, self-titled album through Mercury Records in 2011, which featured an A-list lineup of guest artists including Sting, Gwyneth Paltrow and Sir Elton John.

In 2012, Morrison starred in the Lionsgate film, What to Expect When You’re Expecting, which was based on the book of the same name, directed by Kirk Jones. The film also starred Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez and Dennis Quaid among others. Morrison played a famous dance show star who is faced with the unexpected demands of fatherhood. The film was released on May 18, 2012.

In March 2012, Morrison hosted and narrated the PBS special entitled Oscar Hammerstein II- Out of My Dreams, which focused on the Broadway producer’s life and career. Also in March 2012, Morrison was featured in a performance of Dustin Lance Black’s play, 8 – a staged reenactment of the federal trial that overturned California’s Prop 8 ban on same-sex marriage. The performance raised money for the American Foundation for Equal Rights.

Morrison studied musical theater, vocal performance and dance at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He made his debut on Broadway in Footloose but his big break came when he was cast as heartthrob “Link Larkin” in the hit Hairspray. Morrison was later nominated for a Tony Award for his role in The Light in the Piazza, and received a Drama Desk Nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for 10 Million Miles. He also starred in the Tony® Award-winning revival of South Pacific at Lincoln Center Theater in New York.

Morrison currently resides in New York.

About Shoshana Bean:

Shoshana Bean’s four independent solo albums have all topped the iTunes charts in the U.S. and U.K., with her latest album Spectrum landing at #1 on the Billboard Jazz Charts.

Bean made her Broadway debut in the original cast of Hairspray and starred as the very first replacement for “Elphaba” in Wicked. Most recently, she appeared as “Fanny Brice” in Funny Girl and as “Cee-Cee Bloom” in the new musical adaptation of Beaches, for which she earned a Jeff Award Nomination for best lead actress in a musical.

She has sold out solo concerts around the globe, lent her voice to countless films and television shows, amassed millions of views on YouTube, toured with Postmodern Jukebox, performed alongside David Foster, Ariana Grande, Brian McKnight and sang back up for Michael Jackson for his 30th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden. She arranged vocals for Jennifer Lopez’s American Idol performance of “I Luh Ya Papi," and her music has been featured in television shows on NBC, MTV, Oxygen, Bravo and Showtime.