Perez, McKay & More Join Roster for BROADWAY FOR A NEW AMERICA Gala Benefit 3/2

As announced last week: The Jewish Alliance for Change (Doni Remba, President) will present"BROADWAY FOR A NEW AMERICA" - Standing Up for Marriage Equality and a Progressive Agenda for Change, on Monday, March 2nd at 7:00 PM, at Peter Norton Symp hony Space, 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street). The benefit concert will feature a host of Broadway singers, performers and cast members from leading shows, including Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award winners, stars from the worlds of television, film, music, and comedy, plus prominent political leaders, progressive and LGBT activists.

Added to the roster of stars are: Tony nominated actress and recording artist Melissa Errico; critically acclaimed singer/songwriter and recording artist Nellie McKay; Academy Award and Emmy Award-nominated actress Rosie Perez; the Tony, Drama Desk, OBIE, and Emmy Award-winning singer and actress Lillias White; and Broadway, TV, and cabaret star Sh auna Hicks. Also new to the bill are B'way performers Hugh Panaro, Cheryl Freeman, Norm Lewis, Michael Longoria, Krysta Rodriguez, and Noah Weisberg.

Announced earlier were: Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress Stockard Channing; Richard Belzer, stand-up comedian and actor perhaps best known for his work on Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: SVU; multi-Tony Award nominee Tovah Feldshuh (soon to be seen on Broadway in Irena's Vow); internationally renowned singing star Mario Frangoulis; 14-time Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs Award winner, Tony nominee, and recording artist Ann Hampton Callaway; London and Broadway award-winning actress Eve Best(soon to be seen on Showtimes's new series Nurse Jackie); "New York's Top Political Comedian" Scott Blakeman; Tony nominee Jonathan Freeman, currently starring in Broadway's The Little Mermaid; and Emmy nominee and Sirius Satellite Radio's "Voice of Broadway" Seth Rudetsky. Tony and Grammy Award-winning actor Jim Dale will serve as host. To millions of fans in the United States and Canada, Jim Dale is the "voice" of Harry Potter. He has recorded all seven books in the Harry Potter series, for which he has won two Grammy Awards, six Grammy nominations and a record nine Audie Awards. His Broadway successes include Barnum, Scapino, Joe Egg, Me and My Girl, Candide,and The Threepenny Opera. Marni Nixon, who had been scheduled to appear, had to drop out due to a scheduling conflict.

The show will be directed by Sara Louise Lazarus, the award-winning theater and cabaret director who directed the highly successful Broadway for Obama concert featuring over thirty leading Broadway performers from the casts of all the top Broadway shows. The event will be produced by Kati Meister and Scott Denny, both producers of the Theatre World Awards. Jeremy Quinn will serve as Associate Producer. Broadway musical director and conductor Lawrence Yurman (Grey Gardens) will be the musical director and Guy Smith will provide the lighting design.

In addition to the performers and celebrities, speakers appearing at the event will include: Alan Van Capelle, Executive Director of Empire State Pride Agenda; Steven Goldstein, Chair of Garden State Equality; Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum of Congregation Beth Simchat Torah; Rabbis J. Rolando Matalon and Marcelo Bronstein of Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, New York City; and Evan Wolfson, Founder & Executive Director of Freedom to Marry.

The Jewish Alliance for Change (www.Jews4Change.com) reached millions of voters in battleground states and across the country with its Israelis for Obama web video and the creative pro-Obama TV and internet ad series Ain't Funny with comedy icons Carl Reiner, Jerry Stiller, Anne Meara, Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman, Valerie Harper, Garry Marshall and Larry Gelbart. The organization plans to build on its achievements and mobilize the American public to fight for marriage equality and the realization of a progressive agenda for change. The benefit proceeds will go to The Jewish Alliance for Change for the continuation of its good work in support of important progressive issues.

Tickets may be obtained by going to: www.Jews4Change.com or www.symphonyspace.org, as well as by calling 212-864-5400. Admission prices range from $40.00 to $125.00. Premium-priced seats (including tickets to a VIP reception with the cast following the show) may be obtained by going to the Jewish Alliance for Change site at www.jews4change.com/broadway.php.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.