BROADWAY BELTS FOR PFF! to Receive Mayoral Proclamation
By: Tyler Peterson Feb. 25, 2016
The 6th annual BROADWAY BELTS FOR PFF! - a concert that raises much-needed funds for Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation - will be the recipient of a Mayor Proclamation when the event takes place on Monday, February 29 at the Edison Ballroom (240 W. 47 St.) at 6;30 pm in NYC, it has been announced by Julie Halston, the event's emcee and one of its founders and producers. The Proclamation from New York City Mayor William de Blasio will be presented during the program, which will feature performances from a host of Broadway stars including Lisa Howard (IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN YOU), Margo Seibert (ROCKY), Hunter Ryan Herdlicka (ONCE UPON A MATTRESS), Daveed Diggs (HAMILTON), Randy Graff (CITY OF ANGELS), Cady Huffman (THE PRODUCERS), Judy Kaye (PHANTOM OF THE OPERA), Telly Leung (ALLEGIANCE), and Robert Creighton (THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, CAGNEY).
Also announced is a HAMILTON Silent Auction package that will include a pair of tickets to see the show on Broadway, along with a post-show backstage tour and a free hotel stay at the Hyatt Times Square Hotel. The auction is now live on ebay and 100% of the winner price will go to the Foundation.
Daveed Diggs, the popular actor, rapper and poet who plays the dual roles of Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in HAMILTON, will debut a new rap number, written by him especially for the occasion at BROADWAY BELTS FOR PFF!
An annual sold-out event that is a genuine New York experience, BROADWAY BELTS FOR PFF! was created by one of PFF's leading advocates nationwide, the beloved Broadway actress and comedienne Julie Halston in 2010. The event raises money to fight Pulmonary Fibrosis, an unforgiving, progressive disease that involves scarring in the lungs. With no cure, many live only two or three years following diagnosis.
BROADWAY BELTS FOR PFF! is directed by Carl Andress (THE DIVINE SISTER). Christopher McGovern (CAGNEY) serves as Musical Director, with musical supervision by Ed Windels. The benefit is produced for the sixth straight year by D. Michael Dvorchak, Sue Frost (MEMPHIS, COME FLY AWAY), Julie Halston and Ed Windels.
This one-of-a-kind evening of Broadway stars performing some of their favorite songs began as a tribute to the beloved Broadway theater critic Michael Kuchwara of the Associated Press, who died suddenly of pulmonary fibrosis in 2010. Coincidentally, Ms. Halston's husband, the venerated newscaster Ralph Howard, himself was diagnosed with PF and a short time later, received a life-saving lung transplant. People of note who have died from PF include Robert Goulet, Marlon Brando, Evil Knievel, Peter Benchley, James Doohan and John Palmer.
To date, BROADWAY BELTS FOR PFF! has raised nearly $500,000 for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, and is one of the largest annual fundraisers for the Chicago-based organization.
"What started out as a heartfelt tribute to the legacy of Associated Press Theater Critic Michael Kuchwara has grown into a major fundraising initiative for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, helping to raise awareness, promote research and help those suffering with pulmonary fibrosis," said Patti Tuomey, EdD, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. "We are grateful to our friends Julie Halston and Ralph Howard and to everyone involved with the production. Broadway performers are known for their generosity of time and talent and we are honored to be included in this community."
Ms. Halston notes that while pulmonary fibrosis is a growing health concern throughout the world -- and while the disease is frequently misdiagnosed -- two leading pharmaceutical companies are making considerable advances in developing drugs that may not provide a cure for pulmonary fibrosis, but have shown success in slowing the progression of the disease.
Ms. Halston notes, "Watching my husband struggle to breathe was a poignant reminder of never taking for granted this most basic human function. Can you imagine not being able to breathe? That's what we're fighting for and why this evening, filled with Broadway's best 'belting to the rafters,' is so important to me. The leap in treatment since 2010 has been astounding, but much more needs to be done until there is a cure."
The mission of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation is to serve as the trusted resource for the PF community by raising awareness, providing disease education, advancing care and funding research. The PFF collaborates with physicians, organizations, people with PF and caregivers worldwide. For more information, visit www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org.
For more information about tickets, sponsorship or donation to BROADWAY BELTS FOR PFF! visit www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/broadwaybelts. Single tickets for $300 and "Performance-only seats" for $100 are also on sale.
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