CW 11 News & Center Stage Join 2/26 "First Time" Benefit

On Monday, February 26, producers Derek Collard and Gary Maffei are pleased to present "MY FIRST TIME," an all-star Broadway concert to benefit Quality Services for the Autistic Community (QSAC). Directed by Igor Goldin ("A Ritual of Faith") with musical direction by David Andrews Rogers, "MY FIRST TIME" will take place at New World Stages (340 West 50th St.) at 7 p.m.

Featuring performances by
Hunter Bell [title of show]
Susan Blackwell - [title of show]
Heath Calvert (Good Vibrations, The Children)
Matt Cavenaugh (Urban Cowboy, Grey Gardens)
Rick Crom (Urinetown, Footloose, The Goodbye Girl)
Jeffry Denman (The Producers, White Christmas)
Ed Dixon (Les Miserables, Under the Bridge)
Hunter Foster (Urinetown, Little Shop Of Horrors, The Producers)
Anita Gillette (Moonstruck, Carnival, Cabaret)
Terri Klausner (Evita, Sophisticated Ladies)
Stephanie Kurtzuba (The Boy From Oz, Mary Poppins, NEWSical)
Garrett Long (The Spitfire Grill, Seussical)
Megan Reinking - (Lestat, Dracula)
Asa Somers (Grey Gardens, Taboo)
John Tartaglia (Avenue Q, Beauty and the Beast)
Mary Testa (On The Town, 42nd Street, Regrets Only)

The Concert will be opened by CW 11 News at 10 Anchor Jim Watkins and closed by students from Center Stage Players from the Center Stage Theatre Company in Westport, CT singing Seasons of Change from RENT joined by a possible surprise guest.

The concert features a variety of first-hand stories and songs from the performers' own "first" experiences, such as the first show they were in, their first professional stage success or the first show or star that inspired them to follow their hearts to Broadway.

Additional performers will be announced soon.

Director Igor Goldin received the 2006 Award for Excellence in Direction for his work on "Common Grounds" in the 2006 New York Musical Theatre Festival. Previously with NYMF he directed Joseph and David Zellnik's World War II musical "Yank!" His Off-Broadway credits include the critically acclaimed New York premieres of "A Ritual of Faith" (The Lion Theatre) and the musical "The Snow Queen" (The Triad).

Tickets for this one-night-only event can be reserved by calling QSAC directly at 212-244-5560 ext. 2035. Tickets are priced at $25, $45 and $65.

For further information on "MY FIRST TIME" and QSAC, please contact Derek Collard at derektravis@mac.com or visit www.QSAC.com.