BROADWAY BELTS FOR PFF! to Feature Max Von Essen, Linda Lavin and More, 2/25

Broadway's Julie Halston will host the Third Annual Broadway Belts for PFF! to benefit the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) on February 25 at 7:00pm at Birdland Jazz Club (315 West 44th Street) as part of Broadway at Birdland series. All proceeds will benefit The Michael Kuchwara Fund for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Research, Education, and Advocacy. For more information visit broadway@pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call (312) 239 - 6636.

Ms. Halston is a spokeswoman and activist for Pulmonary Fibrosis, along with her husband Sirius XM news anchor for The Howard Stern Show, Ralph Howard, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2008.

Directed by Carl Andress (The Divine Sister), the evening will feature some of Broadway's best including Tony winners Linda Lavin and Debbie Gravitte, along with Emily Bergl (Cat on A Hot Tin Roof), Max von Essen (Evita), music director John McDaniel, and Robert Creighton (The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Anything Goes). Broadway Belts for PFF! features musical direction by Jesse Kissel, musical arrangements by Ed Windels, script by Ms. Halston and D. Michael Dvorchak, Trisha Hansen is stage manager, and Sue Frost (Memphis) is Co-Producer. In its first two tribute concerts, over $90,000 has been raised for PFF, and have featured surprise appearances by supporters Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey.

Doors open at 5:00pm with curtain time promptly at 7:00pm.

All funds will go toward The Michael Kuchwara Fund for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Research, Education, and Advocacy in honor of the late and beloved Associated Press theater critic and reporter. Michael Kuchwara, Associated Press theater reporter and critic for over 25 years, devoted his life to the theater. In May of 2010, following a brief illness, Kuchwara's untimely passing was linked to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

For any questions regarding Broadway Belts! or the work of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) please contact: 888.733.6741 or broadway@pulmonaryfibrosis.org.