Saturday, October 3rd, 2026
This year marks an extraordinary moment for Shea’s — our 100th Anniversary. For a century, Shea’s has been more than a theater; it has been a place where our community gathers, celebrates, and finds inspiration. We can think of no better way to honor this milestone than by bringing together the people who have helped make Shea’s what it is today.
On Saturday, October 3, we will celebrate with the Shea’s Centennial Gala, an evening designed to reflect both our rich history and our bright future.
We are especially thrilled to welcome Tony Award nominee Megan Hilty for a special appearance during the evening. Megan is widely celebrated for her iconic performances as Glinda in Wicked, her starring role in NBC’s Smash, and most recently on Broadway in Death Becomes Her — a production that will also appear as part of Shea’s 2026-2027 season. Her extraordinary career and deep connection to musical theater make her a perfect fit for this Centennial celebration, and her presence will make the evening even more memorable.
The Gala will also honor Tony Conte, former President of Shea’s, with the Michael Shea Lifetime Legacy Award. Tony’s vision, leadership, and unwavering dedication have shaped Shea’s in profound and lasting ways. His influence can be felt throughout the organization and the community we serve and recognizing him during our Centennial feels both fitting and deeply meaningful.
A portion of the evening’s proceeds will benefit the Elevate Shea’s Expansion Project, supporting accessibility, preservation, and the continued growth of Shea’s as we look ahead to our next 100 years.
Megan Hilty is a Tony and Grammy Award nominated actress and singer, most recognizable for her portrayal of triple-threat Ivy Lynn in the NBC Musical Drama “Smash.”
Immediately after graduating from the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama, she went into the Broadway company of “Wicked” and spent 4.5 years playing Glinda the Good. She originated the role of Doralee Rhodes in “9 to 5 The Musical” and went on to play Brooke Ashton in “Noises Off,” where she was honored with her first Tony Award nomination. Other stage credits include Audrey in “Little Shop of Horrors” (Kennedy Center), Annie Oakley in “Annie Get Your Gun” (Encores/NY City Center), Lily St Regis in “Annie” (Hollywood Bowl) and Lorelei Lee in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (Encores/NY City Center). Most recently, Hilty originated the role of Madeline Ashton in “Death Becomes Her, The Musical”, earning two Broadway.com audience choice awards, a Tony Award nomination and a Grammy nomination for her performance.
Her numerous television credits include “Sean Saves The World” with Sean Hayes, “Difficult People,” “Braindead,” “The Good Fight,” and playing the iconic Patsy Cline in “Patsy and Loretta,” which earned her a Critics Choice Nomination. She also had the great pleasure of playing Lily in NBC’s “Annie Live!” Megan’s voiceover work spans from full length audiobooks to kids animated favorites on Disney, Nickelodeon, Netflix, Hulu & Cartoon Network. Hilty continues to tour her cabaret show with her band, led by Grammy Nominated Matt Cusson, which has been taped for “Live from Lincoln Center” on PBS, and regularly appears with world renowned orchestras including the NY Pops, Boston Pops and the National Symphony Orchestra.
