Broadway Flea Market September 22nd

If you haven't been, you should go.  It's a great time.  LINK

Interesting Arts Benefit for MIX: The New York Queer Experimental Film Festival

 SNAP!

November 24 - December 2:
on eBay
Get ready for the SNAP! Celebrity Camera Auction.  Disposable cameras were distributed to celebrities for them to photograph anything they want.  The cameras are signed, and the winners of the auction get to develop and keep the photos!  Lots of cool celebrities took part, includingJane Wiedlin, Alan Cumming, Amanda Palmer, Augusten Burroughs, Big Ang, Mink Stole, Michael Lucas, John Cameron Mitchell and more. Check out the list HERE.  This auction benefits MIX: The New York Queer Experimental Film Festival.

"Vatican Falls" Benefit for SNAP

Lucia Grillo added to the cast of “VATICAN FALLS” 

A Benefit for SNAP

                        

Lucia Grillo

New York, NY (April 23, 2012) Impetus Ensemble is proud to add Lucia Grillo to the cast of this special presentation of an ambitious new play, Vatican Falls, written by Frank J. Avella (author of “Consent”) and set against the backdrop of the Catholic sex abuse scandal. The staged reading will be presented May 15, 2012 at 6:45PM at the National Comedy Theatre. All proceeds from the play will benefit SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests). 

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On April 11, 2012, the Center for Constitutional Rights, on behalf of SNAP, filed a supplemental complaint with more evidence and many new developments since the September lawsuit (link). 

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Based on factual material, “VATICAN FALLS” follows the life of one survivor who struggles with understanding how those closest to him could damage him the deepest. The multi-genre, non-linear play probes the conflicting feelings involved in most sexual abuse situations and dares to confront the truth about the ever-growing scandal and the Church’s complicity in it. 

Ali Forney Center Benefit

“ B R O A D W A Y   B E A U T Y   P A G E A N T ”

WITH SPECIAL APPEARANCES BY BRENT BARRETT

AND PAST WINNERS FRANKIE JAMES GRANDE

AND MICHAEL CUSUMANO

ONE-NIGHT-ONLY

MONDAY, MARCH 19

AT SYMPHONY SPACE

New York, NY (2/21/12) – The contestants for the sixth annual The Broadway Beauty Pageant have been announced. Participants include Andrew Chappelle (Mamma Mia!), Wilkie Ferguson (Porgy and Bess), Corey Mach(Godspell), Jesse Swimm (Mary Poppins), and Anthony Wayne (Priscilla Queen of the Desert). Brent Barrett(Chicago) and past Pageant winners Frankie James Grande (Mamma Mia!) and Michael Cusumano (Chicago) are set to perform. As previously announced, four-time Tony nominated and Drama Desk Award-winning actress Tovah Feldshuh will host the event which will take place on Monday evening, March 19th, 8p.m., at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway at 95^th St.). The popular event is the annual benefit of New York’s Ali Forney Center.

The Broadway Beauty Pageant will feature Chappelle, Ferguson, Mach, Swimm, and Wayne as they represent their respective Broadway shows, competing for the title crown through talent, interview and swimsuit competitions.  The contestants will go head to head in front of a panel of celebrity judges, but ultimately, the final vote is in the audience's hands. Past judges have included Bruce Vilanch, Carson Kressley, Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, Michael Musto, Christine Ebersole, Beth Leavel, Charles Busch, and Seth Rudetsky.

  

The Broadway Beauty Pageant is written and conceived by Jeffery Self and directed by Ryan J. Davis, with musical direction by Christopher Denny. The evening is presented by Time Warner NYC, HBO and The Corcoran Group, and produced by Ryan J. Davis, Wil Fisher and Matthew Oberstein. The casting is by Daryl Eisenberg, and the lighting design is by Brian Tovar. Choreography is by Erin Porvaznika.

The Ali Forney Center (AFC) was started in June 2002 in response to the lack of safe shelter for LGBT youth in New York City.  They have grown quickly to become the nation's largest and most comprehensive organization dedicated to homeless LGBT youth.  They are committed to providing LGBT youth with safe, dignified, nurturing environments where their needs can be met and where they can begin to put their lives back together. The center provides short and long term housing in Manhattan and Brooklyn, plus free medical care, HIV testing, mental health services, showers, food, computer access and job training and placement at its drop-in centers in Chelsea and Brooklyn. 

Tickets for The Broadway Beauty Pageant are available at www.SymphonySpace.org or by calling the box office at 212-864-5400, and are $25, $50 and VIP $150. Individual Sponsored tickets range from $250 to $1000 and can be purchased by contacting wfisher@aliforneycenter.org.

THE BEST OF JIM CARUSO’S CAST PARTY - benefit for The Actor's Fund

New York: In its ninth star-studded year at Birdland, Jim Caruso will bring his celebrated Cast Party back to the big stage at Town Hall for a second year. The Best of Jim Caruso’s Cast Party will take place on Thursday, February 23 at 8PM and will be presented by the one and only Scott Siegel.  Tickets are $25, $50, and $75 and are available by calling 800-982-2787 or visiting TicketMaster.com. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Actors Fund.

Some of the celebs joining this year’s Cast Party include Golden Globe and Tony Winner Linda Lavin, the uber-talented jazz and adult contemporary vocalist Jane Monheit, Broadway Star and Drama Desk NomineeStephanie J. Block, nine-time Grammy winning solo artist and founding member of The Manhattan Transfer Janis Siegel, David Ippolito AKA “That Guitar Man From Central Park”, Broadway sensation Julia Murney(Wicked), stand-up comedian, Grammy nominee and "Celebrity Apprentice"   Lisa Lampanelli, Tony Winner Paulo Szot (South Pacific),Lysistrata Jones’ Liz Mikel, comic juggler Marcus Monroe, “The Acromedian” Rudi Macaggi, also performing  are Holly Near performing with lyricist/composer John Bucchino (A Catered Affair) and Laura Osneswill join composer Frank Wildhorn, best known for his Broadway musicalJekyll & Hyde. Also joining the party is Terri Klausner, who will be singing “Hit Me With A Hot Note” from Sophisticated Ladies, and Andrew Nemr, whose tap company “Cats Paying Dues” will perform an unforgettable tribute to Gregory Hines. And that’s not all - many more surprise performers and special guest stars will be announced over the next few weeks!

Billy Stritch will hold court at the piano, adding vocals and banter to the proceedings.  Joining the musical fun will be Daniel Glass on drums and Tom Hubbard on bass.