Broadway in South Africa's Second Annual Benefit Concert to Feature Cox, Bean, Shindle, Carnelia, Bowen, and More 10/5 At Symphony Space

R&B singer, songwriter and actress Deborah Cox will headline Broadway in South Africa's second annual benefit concert on Monday, October 5th, at 7:30 PM at New York City's Peter Norton Symphony Space. Hosted by John MacMillan (Hamlet with Jude Law), Broadway favorites Shoshanna Bean (Wicked), Kate Shindle (Legally Blonde) and Darius DeHaas (Rent), along with members of the Broadway company of the The Lion King, will join Cox in performing original new works created by leading composers to benefit this fledgling not-for-profit. Peter Norton Symphony Space is located at 2537 Broadway at 95th Street. Tickets are priced at $100 and $60, and can be purchased by calling 212-864-5400 or at www.symphonyspace.org. Special discounts available at www.broadwayinsouthafrica.org.

Broadway composers, including Craig Carnelia, Jeff Bowen and Michael John LaChiussa, will pen original songs for the evening based on the poetry and essays of the South African youth that participated in Broadway in South Africa's classes and workshops that took place in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban townships in January 2009.

Jen Bender, Artistic Director of Broadway in South Africa, says, "This is going to be a thrilling evening. I speak for the entire team at Broadway in South Africa when I say we are humbled and grateful to all the composers and artists who are volunteering their time to make this event incredibly special. Without the dedication and talents of these individuals, Broadway in South Africa would not be able to achieve our goal of providing resources for youth to explore their creative potential through arts education, and empowering them with the life skills necessary to build successful futures."

Other singers in the benefit evening include: Uzo Aduba (Coram Boy), Sean Bradford (The Lion King), Lilli Cooper (Spring Awakening), Frankie James Grande (Mamma Mia), Adam Kantor (Rent), Chelsea Krombach (Wicked), Tracy McDowell (Rent), Selloane (The Lion King), Christopher Spaulding (Curtains) and Lisa Nicole Wilkerson (The Lion King). Additional composers who wrote original songs for the evening include: Deborah Abramson and Joel B. New, Scott Alan and Shoshanna Bean, Matt Gould, Daniel Larsen, Sellaone, Ryan Scott Oliver, Jeremy Schoenfeld and Katie Thompson. Additional presenters include South African artists: Amra-Faye Wright (Chicago), Mark Rayment (The Lion King, South Africa) and Nyasha Zimucha (Miss Africa USA 20008).

Broadway in South Africa's mission is to develop cross-cultural exchange between youth in need and Broadway artists who seek to use their talents for change. It is a cooperative, not-for-profit venture created by professional working actors, dancers, directors, musicians and producers from New York City - all brought together by the desire to affect change in the world through art and themselves, learn from the potential the comes from bridging cultural divides.