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New York, NY – July 2, 2025 – TDF, the not-for-profit organization dedicated to sharing the power of the performing arts with everyone, is pleased to announce that its annual fall fundraiser Broadway Breakfast will be held at the iconic Rainbow Room (30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65^th Floor) on Wednesday, October 15 at 8 a.m. Guests will enjoy a seated breakfast and the glamorous venue’s unparalleled NYC skyline views along with unforgettable performances by Broadway stars and inspiring stories that celebrate the power of the performing arts and those who make them accessible for all of us.

Robert E. Wankel, Chairman and CEO of The Shubert Organization, will receive the TDF Founders Award. This award honors individuals and organizations who have demonstrated a deep commitment to TDF and its mission, and who embody TDF’s vision of a world where the transformative experience of attending live theatre and dance is essential, relevant, accessible, and inspirational.

Tony Award^® winner Ali Stroker will be honored with the inaugural Christina Trivigno Advocate Award. Last fall, TDF lost a beloved friend and colleague, Christina Trivigno, after a protracted battle with cancer. Not only was Christina fearless in her advocacy for accessibility, but she was also a senior leader in our industry, representing a small number of wheelchair users who have reached the echelons of upper management in the American theatre, modeling for so many what is possible. To honor Christina’s contributions to TDF and to the field at large, the Christina Trivigno Advocate Award will be granted each year to an extraordinary artist, activist, or creator in our community.

Of this year’s honorees, TDF Executive Director Deeksha Gaur said, “With over five decades of service, Bob Wankel has had an incredible and lasting influence on the American theatre. He has always encouraged TDF to dream big and be bold in our pursuit of a more inclusive audience for Broadway, and he has supported us through his advocacy, philanthropy, and the partnership of The Shubert Organization. We’re so proud to honor this New York City legend with the TDF Founders Award.”

Gaur continued, “Ali Stroker was an inspiration to Christina Trivigno, our beloved colleague for whom our new Advocate Award is named. Christina spoke often about the joy of seeing Ali perform, and in particular the way she has shifted the narrative around disability and made theatre accessibility an industry-wide priority. We cannot think of a better recipient for this inaugural year.”

The funds raised at the TDF Broadway Breakfast will provide vital support for the not-for-profit’s wide range of Accessibility, Education, and Community Programs that ensure the performing arts are accessible to all. Additional honorees and performers will be announced at a later date.

Click here to download Wankel's and Stroker’s headshots.

TDF Trustee Nicole Manning Hart is the benefit co-chair. Tables start at $7,500. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit tdf.org/breakfast.

ROBERT E. WANKEL is Chair and Chief Executive Officer of The Shubert Organization that owns and operates 17 Broadway theatres and six Off-Broadway venues. Throughout Mr. Wankel’s 50 years with Shubert, he has been a guiding force in all aspects of the company’s operation, including finance, creative projects, real estate, ticketing, and Telecharge. Mr. Wankel was Chief Financial Officer before being appointed Executive Vice President of the company in 1996 and was named President and Co-CEO of The Shubert Organization in 2008. He was appointed Chair and CEO in 2020. Mr. Wankel also serves as Chair of The Shubert Foundation, the nation’s largest arts funder dedicated to unrestricted support of not-for-profit theatres and dance companies throughout the United States. The 2025 Shubert Foundation grants totaled 42 million dollars. Mr. Wankel plays a leading role in numerous charitable, community, and civic organizations. He serves on the Board of Governors and Executive Committee of The Broadway League, the national trade association for the Broadway industry, and is a member of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors of the Times Square Alliance. Mr. Wankel is Board Chair of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts as well as an Officer and Director of The Actors Studio. He is President of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Chair of the Board of The Actors Fund Housing Development Corporation, and a member of The Actors Fund Board of Trustees. Since its founding in 1900, The Shubert Organization has produced and co-produced hundreds of Broadway plays and musicals, including this season’s Gypsy; Maybe Happy Ending; Good Night, and Good Luck; The Picture of Dorian Gray; and Oh, Mary! Mr. Wankel is a graduate of St. John’s University.

ALI STROKER is a Tony Award winner for her role as Ado Annie in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! She made history as the first actor in a wheelchair to appear on Broadway in Deaf West’s acclaimed 2015 revival of Spring Awakening. She was a series regular in Netflix’s Echoes and starred in the Lifetime holiday film Christmas Ever After. Ali recurred in the final season of Netflix's Ozark and is recurring in Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building. She co-wrote the novel The Chance to Fly and its sequel Cut Loose!, and she wrote the children's book Ali and the Sea Stars. She played Lady Anne in the Shakespeare in the Park production of Richard III. She’s performed her one-woman show all over the country, some of her favorite engagements being at The Kennedy Center, The Town Hall, Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall. Her mission to improve the lives of others through the arts is captured in her motto: “Turning Your Limitations Into Your Opportunities.”

ABOUT TDF: Founded in 1968, TDF (formerly known as Theatre Development Fund) is a not-for-profit service organization dedicated to sharing the power of the performing arts with everyone. TDF’s mission is to engage a broad and diverse audience by removing the financial, physical, and invisible barriers to participation in the performing arts. TDF’s initiatives include the TKTS by TDF Discount Booths; TDF Memberships; the TDF Costume Collection; and TDF Accessibility, Education, and Community Programs. Those Programs include open captioned, audio described, and ASL-interpreted performances; Autism Friendly Performances; the Veterans Theatregoing Program; school programs serving more than 11,000 NYC public school students annually; and partnerships with over 150 NYC community organizations serving 18,000 people in the tristate area. TDF welcomes NYC’s vibrant communities to the theatre because experiencing the performing arts improves mental health and social connections. Learn more about TDF at tdf.org.

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