Benefit Show with International Talent Will Spotlight Mental Health Awareness Month & Older Americans Month

Step Forward Entertainment is putting the spotlight on mental health (especially increasing rates of depression among seniors) through music, dance, theater, writing and other creative works of art. At the event, co-producer Pat Labez will be launching, Third Act Encore, a compilation book with 21 inspiring, authentic storytellers who share experiences of resilience, reinvention and renaissance, and finding joy in the golden, “encore years.”  

The last part of the event will feature the show, Cheese Fries & Chili Dips, a humorous and poignant critically acclaimed solo show, written and performed by Chris Fuller about his pursuit of a life-long dream: to play on the PGA Tour while living with Bipolar Disorder. All proceeds will benefit the nonprofit organization, International Mental Health Foundation.

All proceeds will benefit the nonprofit organization, International Mental Health Foundation.

“Lifting the Curtain on Mental Health” will be held on Monday, May 13th, 7 to 10:30 p.m. at the Triad Theater on the Upper West Side of New York City, 158 W. 72nd St., 2nd floor and now includes a performance of Cheese Fries & Chili Dips, originally scheduled for May 18th at The Triad.

Featured artists include Anika and Leo Sieg from Külungsborn, Germany presenting ME & THE LION, a special music project creating a movement that is committed to destigmatizing mental illness through music. The two musicians believe that depression, anxiety disorders and burnout have been increasing rapidly and that it is more important than ever to talk about them more openly. ME & THE LION deals with these topics in a sensitive way through songs focusing on relationships, hope, and the will to live. The music crosses over and combines elements of three genres of music: pop, rock, and country music. “Music can be a great help in understanding yourself better and taking action," says singer and songwriter Anika, who suffers from C-PTSD. Multi-instrumentalist and producer Leo adds: "We want to convey a feeling of cohesion. Nobody has to fight alone: we have a lion by our side!" Anika and Leo just released their music video on mental health, “Let the Rain Come”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2sNhIjnw0E.

Adrienne Haan is an effervescent and celebrated international entertainer. Cited as “the First Lady of Cabaret” by Wolf Entertainment Guide and “New York’s most exciting cabaret star today” by the New York Concert Review, her performances have garnered numerous standing ovations, most notably at Carnegie Hall, Ravinia Festival, and concert halls around the world. In 2022, Adrienne was hired by the Permanent Mission of the International Francophonie at the United Nations in New York, to musically represent the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg during its 77th General Assembly. She is the first and only Luxembourg artist to receive this honor. A resident of New York City, Adrienne is artist-in-residence at the renowned Triad Theatre in New York City where she has enthusiastically been received by New York audiences for 8 years.

Soara-Joye Ross is a multi-talented actress known for roles in Broadway hits like Hadestown, Les Misérables and Dance of the Vampires, as well as the national tour of The Gershwin’s' Porgy and Bess. Other theatrical credits include a Lucille Lortel Award-winning and Drama Desk nominee for her role in the off-Broadway hit, Carmen Jones plus The First Noel at The Apollo, Dessa Rose at Lincoln Center Theater, and Anything Goes at Arena Stage. Trained at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), she is also active in film and television

IAKOF SHONSKY is the Founder of NY Tango Academy and Tango Academy Batumi. Hailing from the country of Georgia, this multi-talented dancer is also an actor, director and choreographer. He owns BestFest and works at Tumanishvili Film Actors Theatre. His ventures include Milonga 1904 and Tango Atelie. ” Studies have shown the power of Tango to mental health as well as improving cognitive function and mobility in older adults,” says Iakof. 

Xiaoqing Zhang began her career starring in Avenue Q and other big musical theatre productions in China before settling in America and receiving a master’s degree in the Arts at SCAD. She recently served as an organizer for Tony Awards China and a musical theatre festival in Shanghai. She's VP of The World Chinese Culture and Arts Foundation and Artistic Director of Broadway China. Recognized by the NYC Council, she is also a leading lady in various musicals led by Shanghai Sonatas and regularly collaborates with International Artists.

JOHN EASTERLIN  - A four-time Grammy Award recipient, John's international opera credits include multiple productions with the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Opéra National de Paris, Wiener Staatsoper, ROH Covent Garden, ENO, Teatro Real, Bolshoi and COC Toronto, in addition to the Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco, L.A., Seattle, Washington, Houston and Dallas Opera. Soloist with the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra and ASO at Carnegie Hall, he created the role of Andy Warhol in Glass' The Perfect American and Larry King in the U.S. premiere of Turnage's Anna Nicole. Additional opera appearances: Glimmerglass, Ravinia, Spoleto, Saito Kinen, Merida festivals.

KEA CHAN is the winner of the ALIW award for best artist abroad! Kea was very proud to perform recently in a live concert featuring Philippine Recording Artists at the White Eagle Hall in NJ where she performed solo numbers and did a duet with her idol, legendary female vocalist, Joey Albert! She recently starred in a musical benefit performance of FOUR at Urban Stages in NYC. Kea can be seen as a Homicide detective on the Discovery ID show Homicide City.

Kea was invited to perform for a worldwide audience by the ALIW Awards Foundation Inc. streaming show from the Philippines. She was the winner of their Award at 13 years old for "Child Performer of the Year" in the Philippines. Kea was recently a featured entertainer as part of the IGNITE THE POSSIBILITIES event at The Triad. 

CHRIS FULLER - In addition to writing & starring in his first full length play Cheese Fries & Chili Dips, he had previously written humorous satirical books including Goodnight, Golf! and is the son of famed author John G. Fuller (The Ghost of Flight 401) and playwright Elizabeth Fuller (Me & Jezebel). 

The evening will also showcase additional intergenerational talent from ages 8 to 80s covering all three acts of life including authors in the Third Act Encore. Inspired by her years in long-term care services and hospice volunteering, Pat Labez cites, “This book is timely. Every day, about 10,000 people turn 65 with a 47% projected increase to 82 million by 2050. Depression, anxiety, and suicide among seniors continue to rise. Whether you're 65 or 25, the sage wisdom within these pages will undoubtedly resonate and invite the possibilities in your own life.” 

Robert R. Blume, president of Step Forward Entertainment, served as executive producer of the Drama Desk Awards (“the Golden Globe of theater”) for 18 years. He is one of the authors in the book and says, “As colorful as my journey has been in my decades of being in show biz, I never really thought of writing. Being invited to this Third Act Encore project has been fun and I’m glad to be encouraging others in the process. We are also grateful to the Smart Family Foundation for their support to allow these amazing, meaningful programs.”

Tickets are $20 for both the live, in-person show (plus 2-beverage min.) at www.stepforwardnyc.com and streaming services with an option for on-demand viewing available at www.imhfstreaming.com  All proceeds go to the International Mental Health Foundation (IMHF), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing awareness to mental health and disabilities through the arts. Visit www. intlmentalhealth.org/events.