Broadway Meets Country in November 12 Benefit with Menzel, Peters, Stokes Mitchell, Wilson, Yearwood and More

Broadway will be giving the CMA Awards a star-studded welcome this year, when the annual event comes to Manhattan in November. As part of a weeklong series of events during "Country Takes New York City," The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc. and the Country Music Association are collaborating on a unique and unprecedented event – "Broadway Meets Country" – which will celebrate the universality and crossover appeal of these two popular genres and their performers.

On the evening of Saturday, November 12, superstars from the worlds of Country Music and Broadway will join together in a cabaret-like setting, performing classic Country and Broadway selections.

This unforgettable evening will be held at The Allen Room, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center (Broadway at 60th Street, New York City), against the breathtaking backdrop of New York's Central Park.

This special charity performance is a fundraiser for The Actors' Fund of America, and the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The impressive line-up includes Broadway performers Idina Menzel, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Bernadette Peters, and Patrick Wilson. Country stars scheduled to perform, include Trace Adkins, Raul Malo, Lee Ann Womack and Trisha Yearwood.

"It is truly history in the making that the Country Music world is coming to New York, and joining with Broadway for such a wonderful, unusual and entertaining event, " commented Jed Bernstein, President of The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc. "This special concert, performed by some of the superstars from both worlds, will not only highlight the similarities and universality of these two seemingly different genres, but also help expand the audience for each style of music."

"In fact, the two genres aren't as different as you may think," said CMA Executive Director Ed Benson. "Storytelling is at the heart of what we do. We both strive to capture and reflect the full range of human emotion, whether it is on a stage or in a song. "

"The Actors' Fund has always provided essential support to the people of Broadway, the world of Country Music, and everyone who works in film, television, dance, and more," said Joseph Benincasa, Executive Director of The Actors' Fund of America. "We are proud to stand with them all in times of need, and honored to be the beneficiary of this very exciting event."

In the 1950's, the first full length, all Country Music motion picture called "Country Music on Broadway" was filmed starring Hank Williams, Jr., George Jones and Lester Flatt.

Since then, Country continues to be at home on the Great White Way. In 2001, Country Music great, Reba McEntire, starred as Annie Oakley in the Marquis theatre production of "Annie Get Your Gun." Other Country celebrities that have taken their turn on stage are Pam Tillis in "Smokey Joe's Café;" Mac Davis and Larry Gatlin in "The Will Rogers Follies;" and Gary Morris in "Les Miserables." Recently, Dolly Parton announced she is writing the score for a Broadway musical based on the motion picture "Nine to Five," in which she starred.

Broadway musicals including "Oklahoma," "Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," "Shenandoah," and "Big River," are among the musicals that have introduced Broadway fans to country storylines, settings and music.

About The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc.

The League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc., founded in 1930 and operating under the trademark "Live Broadway," is the national trade association for the Broadway industry. The League's 500-plus members include theater owners and operators, producers, presenters, and general managers in over 140 North American cities, as well as suppliers of goods and services to the theater industry.

Broadway industry programs initiated by the League include Kids' Night on Broadway, Broadway On Broadway, an annual outdoor concert in Times Square, The Broadway Line, a national toll-free Broadway information hotline (888-BROADWAY), Broadway Ticket Center, and LiveBroadway.com.

Each year, League members bring Broadway to nearly 30 million people in New York and on tour across the U.S. and Canada, contributing $4.3 billion to the New York economy and billions more to the national economy.

About the Country Music Association and CMA Awards

In 1958, CMA was the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. Its membership includes nearly 6,000 companies and music industry professionals around the globe. The CMA Awards were broadcast on network television in 1968 – making it the longest running, music awards program on network TV. Traditionally one of the highest rated awards specials of the year, more than 37 million people watched all or part of the 2004 CMA Awards, placing it behind only the Academy Awards and in a statistical tie with the GRAMMY's in ratings.

In 2005, the event will be held outside of Nashville for the first time when "The 39th Annual CMA Awards" is broadcast live on the CBS Television Network Tuesday, November 15 from Madison Square Garden. For information about CMA and the Association's initiatives and events, visit www.CMAworld.com.

About The Actors' Fund of America

The Actors' Fund of America, founded in 1882, is the national human service organization, helping all entertainment professionals in theater, television, film, music, opera and dance. The Actors' Fund's broad spectrum of programs – designed to address the specific needs of the community – includes comprehensive social services, health services, emergency financial assistance, supportive and affordable housing, career counseling, and skilled nursing and assisted living care. Administered from offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, these programs address essential needs and help people solve programs. For more information visit www.actorsfund.org.

About The American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help their neighbors-across the street, across the country and across the world-in emergencies. Each year, in communities large and small, victims of some 70,000 disasters turn to neighbors familiar and new – the nearly 1 million volunteers and 35,000 employees of the Red Cross. Through almost 900 locally supported chapters, more than 15 million people gain the skills they need to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their homes, communities and world. Some 4 million people give blood-the gift of life-through the Red Cross, making it the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The Red Cross helps thousands of U.S. service members separated from their families by military duty stay connected. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, a global network of 181 national societies, the Red Cross helps restore hope and dignity to the world's most vulnerable people. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work. For information about the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, go to www.redcross.org or call 800-HELP-NOW (800-435-7669).