On October 18th, Emmy nominee Connie Britton and Entourage's Carla Gugino hosted the internationally-acclaimed AFRICAN CHILDREN'S CHOIR as they performed at their annual New York City fundraising gala.
Broadway performers included: Marty Thomas (Xanadu, Wicked, The Secret Garden), Stephanie Block (9 to 5, The Pirate Queen, Wicked, The Boy From Oz), Kathy Fitzgerald (9 to 5, Wicked, The Producers, Swinging on a Star), Andy Karl (Legally Blonde, Wicked, 9 to 5, Saturday Night Fever), Orfeh (Legally Blonde, Saturday Night Fever, The Gershwins' Fascinating Footloose), Rhett George (Memphis, The Little Mermaid, Sweet Charity, Wicked, Aida), J. Bernard Calloway (Memphis), Nikki Renee Daniels (Promises, Promises, Les Misérables, Lestat, The Look of Love, Nine, Aida)
The Music Director for the night was Mary Mitchell Campbell, Cy Coleman's protégé and currently the Music Director for Addams Family on Broadway. This extraordinary evening, featuring world-class performances, a live auction, a raffle, and special appearances by former choir children, helped to raise funds for The African Children's Choir.
BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below.
The African Children's Choir is made up of children from the poorest countries of the world whose voices have been heard by world leaders and the top performers the entertainment world and, over the past 26 years have raised millions of dollars to educate and rebuild countries devastated by famine, war and AIDS. The Choir is comprised of 24 African children, ages seven to eleven. Each child in the Choir has lost one or both parents to poverty, war or AIDS. In their countries, education is not free, so through the efforts of the Choir, the sponsor, Music for Life, is able to educate 6500 children in seven African nations.
The first Choir was formed in 1984. Each year, a new Choir is formed and the children from the previous Choir return to their homelands to attend school. Their education is completely funded by the African Children's Choir. Since its inception, the African Children's Choir has established schools and provided educational scholarships in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Sudan, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa. They have performed all over the globe, singing for presidents, joining performers such as Annie Lennox, Josh Groban, and Faith Hill. They have appeared on American Idol and Jay Leno.
For more information on the choir, visit www.africanchildrenschoir.com.
Photo Credit: Genevieve Rafter Keddy
