Boggess, Orfeh, Karl & More Lead NYC Christmas CD Release Concert, 12/14

Following a triumphant December 2008 benefit concert, ASTEP (Artists Striving to End Poverty) and Sh-K-Boom / Ghostlight Records have announced the album release of 'New York City Christmas.' In addition, ASTEP will present a concert to celebrate the release of the CD on December 14th. The evening will feature Broadway stars Sierra Boggess, Andy Karl, Tyler Maynard, Lindsay Mendez, Orfeh, Tory Ross, Anya Singleton and Sally Wilfert.

'New York City Christmas,' the album will support ASTEP, a quickly growing international arts education non-profit.

The 2008 event, conceived, produced and music directed by Drama Desk-nominated orchestrator Lynne Shankel (Cry-Baby, Altar Boyz, Vanities, Summer of '42) featured some of Broadway's most sought-after talent, and now, by popular demand, songs from the concert have been recorded as a 12 track holiday album titled 'New York City Christmas-- a benefit album for ASTEP.' "I wanted to take the wonderfully creative and generous spirit from last year's concert and try to bottle it!" says Shankel. "Making an album seemed like the perfect opportunity to do that. To work on a project that was both creatively and philanthropically fulfilling was an amazing experience for everyone involved."

The album, featuring fresh, original approaches-- pop, soul, R&B, rock and more-- to favorite holiday songs, boasts a line-up of artists including Tony Award nominee Raul Esparza (Speed the Plow; ABC's Pushing Daisies), Sierra Boggess (Ariel in Broadway's The Little Mermaid), Chester Gregory II (Hairspray, Cry-Baby), Andy Karl (Legally Blonde, Altar Boyz, 9 to 5), Tyler Maynard (Altar Boyz; The Little Mermaid), Lindsay Mendez (Grease), Constantine Maroulis (The Wedding Singer, Rock of Ages), Orfeh (Legally Blonde, Footloose, Saturday Night Fever), Tory Ross (Cry-Baby, 9 to 5), Anya Singleton (All Music Guide's 'Editor's Pick' award winner), and Sally Wilfert (Assassins, Make Me a Song and the national tour of...Spelling Bee).

'New York City Christmas-- a benefit album for ASTEP' will be available for pre-order November 6th on the SH-K-BOOM/Ghostlight Records website and then for digital download on Itunes on November 17th. Interested buyers will also be able to purchase the CD through Amazon.com around December 8th.

To mark the release of the album, ASTEP and SH-K-BOOM/Ghostlight Records will host the second annual concert presentation of a 'New York City Christmas' at Joe's Pub [425 Lafayette St, New York, NY] on December 14th at 9:30pm. Sierra Boggess, Chester Gregory II, Andy Karl, Tyler Maynard, Lindsay Mendez, Orfeh, Tory Ross, Anya Singleton and Sally Wilfert are scheduled to perform*. Olivier Award nominee Stafford Arima (London's Ragtime, Altar Boyz, Bowfire, The Secret Garden benefit concert) will direct. Also appearing will be musicians Shankel (on piano), Joe Mowatt (drums/percussion), Randy Landau (bass), and Peter Calo and Michael Aarons (guitars).

Sierra Boggess will create the role of ‘Christine' in "LOVE NEVER DIES". Sierra made her Broadway debut creating the lead role of ‘Ariel' in Disney's "The Little Mermaid." She also understudied the role of ‘Cosette' on the Broadway National Tour of "Les Misérables". In 2007 Sierra was handpicked by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Hal Prince to originate the role of ‘Christine' in a brand new production of "Phantom - the Las Vegas Spectacular". "LOVE NEVER DIES" marks Sierra's West End debut.

"LOVE NEVER DIES" continues the story of ‘The Phantom', who has moved from his lair in the Paris Opera House to haunt the fairgrounds of Coney Island, far across the Atlantic. Set 10 years after the mysterious disappearance of ‘The Phantom' from Paris, this show is a rollercoaster ride of obsession and intrigue...in which music and memory can play cruel tricks...and ‘The Phantom' sets out to prove that, indeed, "LOVE NEVER DIES."

The World Premiere of "LOVE NEVER DIES" will take place in London on 9 March 2010 at the Adelphi Theatre. Previews begin on 20 February. The show will then premiere in New York on 11 November 2010 and in Australia in 2011.

$50.00 secures a seat for the concert, $25.00 for standing room. Tickets available online through the Joe's Pub website or at the box office. Seating is limited. For additional information about the concert please e-mail info@asteponline.org.

ALL proceeds from album sales and tickets to the show go to supporting ASTEP's mission to create positive change for young people in need across the globe.

Artists Striving To End Poverty was conceived by Mary-Mitchell Campbell who, while volunteering at Mother Teresa's missionary in India, was motivated to effect change in the lives of children in the developing world. After returning to NYC, Mary-Mitchell began work on forming an arts-based non-profit designed specifically to help combat worldwide childhood poverty. ASTEP's programs capitalize on these artists talents to help children see themselves in a new way, see the world in a new way, and to help enrich their lives and communities.