Broadway Cares Presents 'Pamela's First Musical' on 5/18

 Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS presents a special performance of Pamela's First Musical, a new musical with music by Tony Award® winner Cy Coleman, lyrics by Tony Award® winner David Zippel, book by Tony® & Pulitzer Award winner Wendy Wasserstein and directed by Tony Award® nominee Graciela Daniele, on Sunday, May 18 at 3 PM at Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street) with a reception at Sardi's immediately following. Proceeds will benefit BC/EFA and Theatre Development Fund's Open Doors Program, which Wasserstein founded.

Two-time Tony Award®-winner Donna Murphy leads the cast in the role of Pamela's beloved "Aunt Louise." The all-star cast also includes Lynn Ahrens, Christian Borle, Carolee Carmello, Sandy Duncan, Gregg Edelman, Christine Ebersole, Stephen Flaherty, Kathie Lee Gifford, Adam Heller, Richard Kind, Robert Klein, Tommy Tune and many others. Special guest David Garrison makes an appearance as Producer Bernie S. Gerry. The role of "Pamela" will be announced shortly.

This delightful one-act musical, based on Wasserstein's 1996 children's book, tells the story of a young girl from the suburbs who spends an unforgettable birthday with her eccentric, sophisticated Aunt Louise (Murphy) attending a lavish Broadway production and meeting all the glamorous, creative people who made it possible.

"We're thrilled to present this long-anticipated show as a benefit at Town Hall and particularly happy to have Sardi's come on board for the reception since this legendary theatre district restaurant is the location for one of the musical's most delightful scenes," says BC/EFA Executive Director Tom Viola.  "Wendy and Cy were longtime, generous supporters of BC/EFA as both individuals and through the casts of their shows. Their contributions have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for BC/EFA.  I hope they would agree that this special event brings us all full circle."

The concept of staging Wasserstein's 1996 children's book began several years ago. Though Zippel had originally approached Wasserstein about making it into a television movie, they eventually began working with Cy Coleman to turn it into a live stage show. Five years ago, the trio worked to develop the piece, which was essentially complete at the time of Coleman's death in 2004. It was set to premiere in 2005, but the production was eventually cancelled due to Wasserstein's tragic death from lymphoma at age 55. Zippel and Daniele, who had directed two workshop productions of  Pamela's First Musical, have continued working on the project over the last few years. The benefit performance on Sunday, May 18 at Town Hall will be the first public presentation of the show.

Pamela's First Musical comes with one of the most impressive pedigrees imaginable. Three-time Tony Award® winner Cy Coleman wrote the music for Sweet Charity, City of Angels, Little Me, Barnum, The Will Rogers Follies and The Life. In a Broadway career that spanned over 50 years, Coleman served as a composer, arranger, producer, writer, lyricist, creative consultant, musical director and musician.

 Wendy Wasserstein won the Drama Desk, Tony and Pulitzer Prize for her seminal 1989 work The Heidi Chronicles, the story of an art historian who makes the decision to raise a child on her own, a choice reflected in Wasserstein's own life as an adoptive parent. Her other plays included the Broadway hit The Sisters Rosensweig (1993), An American Daughter (1997), Isn't It Romantic? (1984) and Third (2005). Wasserstein's first novel Elements of Style was published posthumously in 2006.

A dancer, writer, director, choreographer and 10-time Tony Award® nominee, Graciela Daniele's credits include The Pirates of Penzance (1981), The Rink (1984), Once on This Island (1991), Ragtime (1998), Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life (2005), and 1996's Chronicle of a Death Foretold, which she wrote, choreographed and directed.

David Zippel won a Tony Award® for the score to 1990's innovative City of Angels. His other credits include The Woman in White and The Goodbye Girl as well as crafting songs for the legendary Barbara Cook. He's also a two-time Oscar nominee for the Disney films Hercules and Mulan.

Tickets for Pamela's First Musical may be purchased by calling BC/EFA at (212) 840-0770 x: 268 or online by visiting www.BroadwayCares.org.