Tony Award winning composer Jason Robert Brown has performed on numerous stages worldwide, but will soon grace one he has never been on: the Whitman auditorium.

The ArtSpeak! event, taking place Dec. 8 at 7 p.m., will include a performance by Brown, prizes like autographed CDs and Q&A session with the audience. ArtSpeak! organizer Mark Shugoll, senior Becky Keteltas and junior Ava Chenok spearheaded the planning of the event.

In 1999, Brown won a Tony Award for best score in the musical “Parade.” Most recently, a movie reboot of Brown’s 2001 musical “The Last Five Years” premiered in 2014, starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan.

“He combines beautiful melodies with articulate lyrics,” Shugoll said. “Jason Robert Brown is one of the great young composers writing for the theater.”

Shugoll started ArtSpeak! 20 years ago, with the mission to excite students about theater and arts, he said. The non-profit host four events per year, but this is their first time coming to Whitman.

“I met Mr. Brown at a concert many years ago,” Shugoll said. “We chatted after the show and I asked for his interest in doing ArtSpeak! He was interested, but Mr. Brown is very busy composing Broadway shows and doing concerts.”

It took 11 years, but the long-awaited ArtSpeak! featuring Brown aims to attract students from all activities, not just theater.

“I’m hoping that many people who weren’t previously aware of Jason Robert Brown will come to see how talented he is,” Keteltas said. “I’m also hoping this will present an opportunity for those who are interested in music and theater to see what he has to say after his many first hand experiences.”

Ava Chenok is a feature writer on the Black & White.