Audra McDonald Set to Perform at 18th Annual GAY DAYS at Disneyland This October

The 2015 Gay Days at Disneyland are set to take place Friday, October 2 to Sunday, October 4. For its 18th year, the event is expected to attract more than 30,000 LGBT park-hoppers from California and all over the country.

Friday's highlights include a concert performance by six-time Tony Award winner, Audra McDonald in our first-ever live concert. McDonald, who will be appearing in the upcoming live-action film version of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, has performed all over the world, selling out Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and Tanglewood. Her show at Gay Days Anaheim will be at the Disneyland Hotel at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $75 and include a pre-show reception.

Friday will also include "At Home with The Fosters," a chat with ABC Family's award-winning drama series Co-Creator and Executive Producer Bradley Bredeweg,Executive Producer Joanna Johnson, and members of the cast, looking at where the show has been, where it's going, and how the groundbreaking show is changing minds and hearts while entertaining millions of fans around the world. The panel will take place at the Grand Californian hotel at 6 p.m. Hosted by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club.

The evening continues with WONDERLAND, a dance party with DJ Ray Rhodes (Tiger Heat, KBIG 104.), and featuring RuPaul's Drag Race favorite, Ben de la Crème. The event runs from 9:30pm-1am at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen located in Downtown Disney at the Disneyland Resort. Tickets are $20 and are available now.

Saturday, October 3 will be Gay Day at Disneyland, which culminates with KINGDOM, the weekend's signature dance party with music from renowned DJ Kimberly S and special performances by Well Strung and Ru Paul's Drag Race star, Manila Luzon. KINGDOM will be held at the House of Blues Anaheim in Downtown Disney from9pm-1:30am. Tickets are $35 in advance, $45 at the door.

Saturday will also feature Miss Coco Peru: A Gentle Reminder in which Drag Queen/Monologist/World Savior, Miss Coco Peru, widely known for her hilarious star turns in the films Trick and Girls Will Be Girls, will take the stage in her brand new show. In this intimate evening, her fourth appearance at Gay Days, Coco will tell stories about her life, sing some songs, and basically change lives.

Sunday, October 4 will be Gay Day at Disney's California Adventure and the return of the Gay Days Anaheim pool party, PLUNGE! from noon until 4:00 p.m. at its new home, the Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel.. DJ Zach Moos will be spinning while Mermaids from Sheroes Entertainment splash around in the pool. International Mr. Leather, Patrick Smith, will also be on hand. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.

Sunday evening will feature a performance of Ben Rimalower's off-Broadway hit, Patti Issues, the show The Advocate called "Smart, poignant, and dishy as hell." Patti Issuestells the story of a gay adolescent seeking solace at the alter of the ultimate Broadway diva, Patti LuPone. It plays at 6:00 pm at the Grand Californian Hotel. Tickets are $20.

VIP ticket packages for the three parties are available now. VIP Gold tickets include access to an exclusive cocktail party with three-time Emmy nominee, Dot Marie Jones(Glee), Jai Rodriguez, legendary Disney Imagineeer Bob Gurr, and Revenge star Nick Wechsler among our guests.

Both days in the parks will feature gatherings only available over Gay Days weekend, including a family scavenger hunt, a group photo, a lesbian ice cream social, group meet ups at varying attractions, ABC screenings, and many more events targeted to families, youth, bears, couples and Mouseketeers of every ilk. There will also be a family pool party sponsored by Family Equality Council and a Teen Dance sponsored by the OC Center. A complete schedule is available at the Gay Days website www.GayDaysAnaheim.com

Other highlights of the weekend include free gift bags at the Gay Days Welcome Center (located inside the Trillium Room of Disney's Grand Californian Hotel), film screenings, mixers, a party hosted by the Family Equality Council and more.

Gay Days Anaheim is a "mix-in" with the park's other weekend guests, but gays and lesbians are encouraged to wear red shirts in order to identify each other and to show strong numbers. Official T-shirts are available at the official Gay Days at Disneyland website. Note: Gay Days Anaheim is NOT a Disney-sponsored event so Disney will not have any information regarding the "unofficial" happening.

Sponsors for the event include Delta Airlines, Ketel One, Howard Johnson Anaheim, The Anabella Hotel, and the Anaheim/Orange Country Visitor and Convention Bureau. Media sponsors are Pride.com, G.E.D., The Fight, Frontiers, San Diego PIX, Queerty, Rage, and EDGE.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Broski