SpeerARTS will present Chefs Onstage—an evening of world-class cuisine and Tony Award-nominated entertainers—all benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Since dinner and a show is the quintessential New York experience, Chefs Onstage brings the worlds of celebrity chef and Broadway together on one bill, pairing the critically acclaimed cuisine of Chef Scott Conant with live performances by over a dozen of Broadway’s brightest stars on Monday, December 5th from 7 to 10pm.
Conant’s three star restaurant, Scarpetta, which has been called “high-minded, almost priestly” for its soulful approach to Italian cuisine, will literally set the stage for performances by Tituss Burgess, Sebastian in The Little Mermaid, Josh Franklin, of Anything Goes, Renee Marino of West Side Story, Bethany Moore of Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, Tony Award-nominated Orfeh of Legally Blonde, Rachel Potter, Wednesday in The Addams Family, Michael James Scott of Book of Mormon, Anne Fraser Thomas of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Marty Thomas of Wicked and Xanadu as well as the critically acclaimed recording artist Katie Thompson.
About Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS One of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-marking organizations, BC/EFA has raised over $195 million since 1988 for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States by drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theater community. BC/EFA is the major supporter of seven programs at The Actors Fund, including The HIV/AIDS initiative, The Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative, The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic, The Actors Fund Work Program, The Dancers’ Resource, The Stage Managers’ Project and three supportive housing residences. BC/EFA also awards annual grants to more than 400 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide.
About SpeerARTS Like many New York actors, Founder Beau Speer has paid the bills between gigs by working as a bartender in some of New York City’s hottest restaurants and bars. In 2010, at 28 years old, he found himself in need of invasive surgery and without health insurance. Upon the recommendation of a fellow actor, he sought medical care at the Hirschfeld Clinic, which is supported under the umbrella of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The possibility of an emergency procedure that could have cost up to $25,000, was brought down to a manageable amount, thanks to the assistance provided by BC/EFA. Using his industry connections in both the culinary and performing arts, Chefs Onstage is Speer’s love letter and thank you to the organization that saw to his healthcare not even a year ago.
December 5th/ 7-10pm
Scarpetta/ 355 W. 14th Street near 9th Avenue
$250 includes admission, food, wine and spirits. Tickets are available at:
www.ChefsOnstage.charityhappenings.org.
