Variety's New York Party 2024 recap: Rachel Zegler, Kit Connor

“I am so proud to have made my life here, to have found so much love here and to have found my livelihood here,” Rachel Zegler told the crowd diversity's New York Party, presented by Film AlUla, Sunday evening.

Key players in New York's entertainment industry gathered at Saint Theo's, the West Village Italian restaurant, to toast Zegler and the 2024 class of the New Power of New York List diversity's annual New York edition. This year's cover features Zegler, making her Broadway debut as Juliet in Romeo + Juliet, a modern adaptation of Shakespeare's timeless romantic tragedy.

At the ceremony, the “West Side Story” star made touching remarks about her father, who commuted from their home in Clifton, New Jersey, to Manhattan to work in commercial construction when she was growing up.

“From middle school through high school, he worked on his favorite job, building the New World Trade Center. He then moved to the new wing of the Javits Center and is now doing final work on 2 Penn Plaza,” Zegler said. “For 23 years, which is a long time but a short life so far, I have watched my father pick up the most magical brush and create the city I love most in the world. It’s a city that I could never really leave because my father literally built it.”

Several “Romeo + Juliet” cast members attended the event, including “Heartstopper” breakout performer Kit Connor, who is making his Broadway debut as Romeo. Zegler's friend and “West Side Story” co-star Josh Andrés Rivera was also on hand to celebrate this year's cover star. By the end of the evening, Rivera was holding a stack of them diversityHe holds New York editions in his hand while chatting with other participants.

The evening was started by diversity co-editor Ramin Setoodeh, who said: “While we love traveling to Los Angeles, we really, really love New York, and that's why our New York issue celebrates you all.”

Setoodeh acknowledged members of the New Power of New York roster — including “SNL” star Heidi Gardner, “Sherri” executive producer Jawn Murray and “The View” executive producer Brian Teta — as well as other guests at the intimate gathering.

“Sherri Shepherd is here, everyone,” Setoodeh told the crowd, to which the talk show host responded with a laugh, “I’m very happy to be here!”

Other notable participants included “The Daily Show” correspondents Desi Lydic, Michael Kosta and Jordan Klepper; “I Saw the TV Glow” filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun; “The Five” co-host Jessica Tarlov; “Giggly Squad” host Hannah Berner; Actor Brandon Flynn and many more.