Becca Tobin, Derek Klena & More Set for Oklahoma Relief Benefit NY4OK, 6/17

NY4OK: A one night only, star-studded benefit concert to raise funds for the public school arts programs devastated by the recent tornadoes in Oklahoma will take place on June 17th at 9:30pm at le Poisson Rouge (158 Bleeker Street). Stars of Broadway, Film, TV, and Popular Music will bring New York together in a night of live music with a silent auction and raffle prizes. All proceeds will go to rebuilding the Oklahoma school arts programs devastated by the May tornadoes.

Featuring Becca Tobin (Glee), Derek Klena (Wicked), Chris Barron (Spin Doctors), Nick Blaemire & The Hustle, Matt DeAngelis (Hair), Ariana DeBose (Motown, Bring It On), Chris Jackson (Memphis), Brian CharLes Johnson (Spring Awakening), Sean McDermott (Silence!, Miss Saigon, Falsettos, Jekyll and Hyde, Grease), Doreen Montalvo (In The Heights), Patti Murin (Lysistrata Jones), Kat Nejat (West Side Story, Lysistrata Jones), Kate Rockwell (Rock of Ages, Bring It On), Oklahoma Native Gabrielle Ruiz(Evita, In The Heights), George Salazar (Godspell), Oklahoma Native Jennifer Sanchez (Ghost), Oklahoma Native Ben Thompson(Matilda), Jeremy Woodard (Rock of Ages).

Music Direction by Joshua Stephen Kartes, Musical Supervision and Artistic Direction by Eli Zoller, with Oklahoma Native Rebecca McBee as Artistic Producer.

"The national coverage of the destruction has touched us all," says Oklahoma Native and Artistic Producer, Rebecca McBee. "Images such as the seventh grader standing in the rubble of her school and wistfully pointing to where her choir room used to be are just heartbreaking." We, as artists, understand at such a deep level that expression through art can educate, enlighten, and heal. Just as the first grade teacher in Moore, OK had her children singing and playing as loud as they could to drown out the sound and comfort them during the tornado, fine arts programs can help children process what happened and be excited about going back to school in Oklahoma. Unfortunately, we all know far too well that arts programs will be amongst the last to be rebuilt. However, this benefit and the support of New York City can do something to change that.

Tickets are $30 minimum suggested donation and are available by calling (212) 505-3474 or through www.NY4OK.com or www.lepoissonrouge.com. Additional donations may be made online at www.NY4OK.com or by check made out to: "Disaster Relief for Fine Arts" and mailed to NY4OK: Disaster Relief for Fine Arts c/o Rebecca McBee 31-51 35th Street, Apt. 2R Astoria, NY 11106.

Photo Credit: Scott Kirkland, Vince Bucci/FOX