De Haas, Milazzo, Forbach & More Sing Elegies to Benefit LGBT Equality Causes 8/16

The Take Back Pride Campaign, GNW Charitable Trust, The Gay and Lesbian Center and Jamie McGonnigal will present a star-studded concert of William Finn's Elegies: A Song Cycle. The concert will feature performances from Darius de Haas (Marie Christine, Rent), Michael Brian Dunn (The Life, Cats, Julie and Julia), Jason Forbach (Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserable 25th Anniversary Tour), AnnMarie Milazzo (Bright Lights, Big City) and Kerry O'Malley (White Christmas, Billy Elliott). The concert is directed by Michael Rader (Cirque du Soeil, Sacramento Music Circus) with music direction by Ed Guttman (Peg O' My Heart, Celtic Chirstmas) and Stage Management from David Beris (Chita Rivera:A Dancer's Life), Jamie McGonnigal (Secret Garden, Pippin In Concert, Broadway Loves the 80s, Flopz n' Cutz) produces.

General Admission: $20
Premium Seats: $50, includes a giftbag and an autographed poster from the show.

You may visit http://www.gaycenter.org/node/5514 to purchase tickets or call 212-620-7310.

Elegies : A song cycle by William Finn is a tapestry of tributes to partners and friends, long-lost pets, and the victims of 9/11, all the while celebrating the lives of those who have passed on. The songs were composed in memory of Finn's friends, several of whom died of AIDS, and the passing of his mother, Barbara Finn. The final segment of show explores the collapse of the World Trade Center and its emotional aftermath, not only to New Yorkers, but to the country as a whole.

Though no storyline links the songs, they are united by the underlining idea of loss; in turn funny, tender, witty, and quietly devastating, they form a unified tapestry. Often hilarious, always touching, and very poignant, Elegies takes us on a musical journey that explores the modern world that we live in, our relationships with those we love, and life's infinite joys. Additionally, there will be a silent auction to help raise additional funds for the charities mentioned.

Take Back Pride is a new campaign focused on educating our community on the many inequalities we still face. TBP hopes to use Pride events and other means of social networking to inform our community and its allies about our struggle for full equality. The campaign is officially endorsed by NYC's Heritage of Pride, Civil Rights leaders Ann Northrop, David Mixner, GetEQUAL's Robin McGehee, Lt. Dan Choi and dozens of other LGBT leaders and organizations. Visit www.takebackpride.org for more information.

GeekNerdWonk "Helps Charities Help Themselves" in three areas of support. First, GNW contributes funds, talent and volunteers to support GNW Charities' own fundraising budgets in the creation of events to raise money for the GNW Charities. Second, GNW brings multi-disciplinary professional and academic credentials to complement the GNW Charities' own professional expertise in applied field work approaches by consulting, and through public health education and promotion. Third, GNW develops quantitative and qualitative research to provide epidemiologically and methodologically sound statistical research to enable GNW Charities to write scientifically-supported grant proposals.