The Signature Theatre on Monday night awarded its first annual Stephen Sondheim Award to legendary actress Angela Lansbury at a black-tie celebration at the Embassy of Italy.

In addition to the guest of honor, the intimate dinner party was attended by a bevy of recognizable names and faces from stage, movies, and television. Foremost among them was Oscar, Tony, and Grammy Award-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim, who was joined by actors Victor Garber, Marin Mazzie, and Jason Danieley, all of whom have played major roles on Broadway.

As two of the most recognizable players on the 20th century American stage, Lansbury and Sondheim's relationship dates back to the actress's first theatrical appearance, in a 1964 production of Anyone Can Whistle, which featured a Sondheim score. The show only ran for nine performances, prompting Sondheim to joke, "I am thrilled that Signature Theatre is helping me make it up to [Lansbury] by giving her the first Stephen Sondheim Award.”

Following the dinner there was a musical tribute to the pair, which included a beautiful rendition by Sherri Edelen of the song Lansbury sang at her first audition for Sondheim in 1963, George and Ira Gershwin’s “A Foggy Day.” Performer Jason Danieley then sang one of Sondheim's best known songs, “Not While I’m Around” from Sweeney Todd, Marin Mazzie sang “There Won’t Be Trumpets,” from Sondheim’s Anyone Can Whistle, and Victor Garber sang the title tune to the musical, “Anyone Can Whistle.”

The gala evening raised more than $350,000 for the Arlington, Va. based theatre company, setting a record for the company's fundraising efforts at a single event.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Signature Theatre's 2010 season includes productions of Dirty Blonde, Show Boat, I Am My Own Wife, Sweeney Todd, and the world premieres of Sycamore Trees and “First You Dream”: The Music of Kander & Ebb.

- Report and photographs by Christina Wilkie

Actress Sherri Edelman, Signature Theatre's Artistic Director, Eric Schaeffer, Broadway star Jason Danieley, Stephen Sondheim Award recipient Angela Lansbury, Oscar, Tony, and Grammy-award winning playwright and composer Stephen Sondheim, actress Marin Mazzie, and actor Victor Garber

Signature Theatre's managing director, Maggie Boland, stops to thank Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) and his wife LuAnn for all their support of the theatre company

Event chairwoman Julie Clemente in raspberry, flanked by, at left, Signature Theatre's Maggie Boland, and at right, Signature Theatre's Sara Jaffe

Paul Masse, Emmy-nominated actor Victor Garber, and Rainer Andreesen

Dr. Akbar Masood and his wife Aisha Masood

Andrea and Enrico Cecchi

Joe and Lucy Lucini

Lizzie Sadoff, Rehanna Bacchus, and Cathy Whitehead

Kay Kendall and Jack Davies

Yvette Prather and Valarie Younger

Michael Sazonov and Curtis Decker

Signature Theatre's Sara Jaffe (who is expecting a baby this summer), Marin Mazzie, and Susan Schwab

Ann Geracimos, wearing a silk and embroidered coat made for her in Afghanistan during the year she spent teaching there in 2008

Kate Frasier, Carol Trawick, and Leanne Mertz

Patty Andringa and Rebecca Klemm

 The atrium of the Italian Embassy was decorated with a theatrical combination of royal purple and white orchids

Patti Sowalsky, Gavida Rabbino, and Mita Schaeffer

Susan and Joe Small with sisters Nicole, Alana, and Juliette Feld

Alison and Adam Falkoff, president of the Capital Keys