Stars Sing to Raise Funds and Inspire Children At PS 166 2/7
Broadway cast members will perform at a benefit for the children of PS 166 - The Richard Rodgers School - on Monday, February 7th, at 7pm in the school's auditorium. Tony winners Bill Irwin (Sesame Street's Mr. Noodle) and Debbie Gravitte ("Jerome Robbins' Broadway") are scheduled to appear, along with Dominic Nolfi and Dominic Scaglione, Jr. of "Jersey Boys," Etai BenShlomo of "Wicked," Everett Bradley of "Swing," Andrea Chamberlain of "The Drowsy Chaperone," Jess LeProtto of "Bye, Bye, Birdie," Neil McCaffrey and Jake Schwenke of "Billy Elliot" and cast members from "Memphis."
The goal is to inspire PS 166 students to consider theater arts as a career path and to build future audiences for live entertainment. But "Broadway Sings" is primarily a benefit for the public elementary school on West 89th Street, which serves some 600 children.
Like other public schools in New York City, PS 166 has been hit hard by budget cuts. Funds raised by "Broadway Sings" ticket sales will help compensate for state and NYC Department of Education cuts that have taken a toll on the school's theater arts, music and enrichment programs. Last year's sold-out show was a huge success that firmly established the school's partnership with the theater arts community.
Broadway veterans and PS 166 parents Paula Leggett Chase and husband Music Director David Chase have enthusiastically agreed to lend their talents and spearhead the assembly of the star-studded cast for the second year in a row. Producer parents Jeff Martin and John Kroner are the organizing forces behind the event.
PS 166, known as the Richard Rodgers School of Arts and Technology, is dedicated to supporting and promoting theater arts in the school, particularly works by Richard Rodgers who attended the school, and is its namesake. PS 166 children in the After School program are currently rehearsing their own version of the Tony-award-winning show "Thoroughly Modern Millie;" they receive coaching in singing, acting, movement, and set design.
"PS 166's theater arts enrichment programs provide a wonderful creative outlet for hundreds of children who discover and develop their singing, acting and dancing abilities," says Martin. "We'd like to sell out the house again so we can preserve these vital programs now and in the future," he says.
Tickets for "Broadway Sings at PS 166" are selling fast and may be purchased online at http://www.ps166.org/www/03M166/site/hosting/Broadway.html. Prices are very reasonable at $15 for children, $30 for adults, and $75 for the front center rows - far less than what one would normally pay for a Broadway show.
Photo Credit: Peter James Zielinski
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