Espinosa, Hanes, Jay-Alexander & More Set for BROADWAY DREAMS NYC Benefit Tonight!

The Broadway Dreams Foundation will present their Third Annual New York Benefit Performance at the Florence Gould Hall (55 East 59th Street) on Monday, November 21, 2011 at 7:30 pm. The special evening, which only happens once a year in NYC, will feature performances that combine Broadway favorites with BDF students from cities across the country. Tickets are now on sale by clicking here.

The concert, directed by Richard Jay-Alexander with musical direction by Roberto Sinha and Leandro Cohelo, will feature highlights from this past summer's "True Colors" BDF musical theatre intensives.  The evening will feature performances by well known Broadway professionals who are also part of the ever-growing BDF faculty including: Tituss Burgess (Jersey Boys), Paul Canaan (Legally Blonde), Jennifer Diamond (Fiddler on the Roof), Jessica Dillan (Thoroughly Modern Millie), Traci Jai Edwards (Legally Blonde), Melissa Errico (My Fair Lady), Eden Espinosa (Wicked), Grace Gealy (West Side Story), Deidre Goodwin (A Chorus Line), Tyler Hanes (A Chorus Line), James Kinney (Sweet Charity, Fosse), Leslie Odom Jr. (Rent) and more along with along with BDF students from Atlanta, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Omaha, Minneapolis, Tallahassee and Charlotte, who are the pride of this budding organization.

The list of participants traveling in from all over the country include: Veronica Benton, Andrew Berlin, Brayton Bowman, Christian Brailsford, Katiie Brunson, Grace Bydalek, Megan Cassling, Kaila Cassling, Caroline Chisholm, Carly June Cohen, Dane Cox, Chase Crandell, Indigo Crandell, Brianna Datelle, Christina Daves, Lily Dickinson, Tori Drothler, Sidney Dupont, Nicholas Eibler, Maddie Eibler, Kidder Erdman, Sam Faulkner, Jason Fazio, Olivia Hardy, Patricia Hengen, Joe Hetterly, Leigh Ellen Jones, Lauryn Jones, Sally Kinney, Ginna Le Vine, Rico LeBron, Andrea Lee, Carina Louchiey, Georgina Louchiey, Josh Louchiey, Damon McToy, Chelsea Pedano, Samantha Pollino, Keegan Potthoff, Talia Regan, Lindsay Roberts, Alexandra Rush,Maddie Russo, Quinci Spady, Laura Steele, Emerson Steele, Sarah Stipe, Walker Stipe, Analisa Swerczek, Sam Swerczek, Indy Tanner, Jackson Tanner, Ryan Townsend, Dan Tracy, Julia Tyminski and Alyssa Wynn.

On hand to launch the evening will be Executive Director Annette Tanner and newly-appointed Artistic Director James Kinney.  Richard Jay-Alexander will serve as the on-stage host for the event. Alexander admits to being the organizations new "poster child" having just joined BDF for two summer intensives in Omaha, NE at the Holland Performing Arts Center and in Philadelphia at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.

Ms. Tanner states "This is a fantastic opportunity to show New York and the theatre community what it is we do across the country and to come and see, firsthand, what Broadway Dreams is all about. We also hope to raise very much needed funds as we are at a crucial time in our growth." Jay-Alexander chimes in "I've been offered these kinds of opportunities many times before, but I think the Broadway Dreams Foundation is in a league all it's own, and I am committing personally, to continue with them and help make more dreams come true for the students, aged 7-67 years since their inception in 2005. I wish there was a Broadway Dreams when I first got interested in the performing arts at 10 yrs old, it certainly would have made things a lot easier, finding people, that young that shared the same passion as I did."

The Third Annual Benefit Performance will include a silent auction and the announcement of the new 2012 Broadway Dreams Foundation faculty.

General Admission tickets are available for $20 - $75. Premium tickets are $125 and VIP tickets are $500 and include an exclusive post-show reception following the 90 minute performance and silent auction. Limited seating is available. To purchase tickets, please visit: www.ticketmaster.com.

The Broadway Dreams Foundation, a non-profit organization, is dedicated to training, mentoring and presenting career opportunities to anyone interested in the performing arts, regardless of socioeconomic background. Intensive programs are offered nationally throughout the year, led by an exceptional faculty of high-profile and experienced Broadway professionals. The unique programs offer highly personalized and supportive coaching, an exciting and collaborative learning environment and ongoing networking to build confidence and life skills - all of which may launch a life-changing career.

BDF has brought its unique programs to Philadelphia, Atlanta, Omaha, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, among others. The ever growing BDF faculty include Tony Award-winning actress Alice Ripley, Tony Award-winning composer Adam Guettel, Tony Award-nominees Jodi Benson and Andrea McArdle, Dave Barrus, Shoshana Bean, Stephanie J. Block, Matt Bogart, Jessica Bogart, Gavin Creel, Quentin Earl Darrington, Diana DeGarmo, Jarrod Emick, Carlos Encinias, Jenn Gambatese, Kate Guyton, Megan Hilty, Adam Hunter, Mark Indelicato, Claci Miller-Juday, Leslie Kritzer, Matt Lenz, Norm Lewis, Nicole Parker, Sarah Pfeifer, Paige Price, Nicholas Rodriguez, Jeremy Schonfeld, Nikki Snelson, Josh Walden, Amanda Watkins, casting directors Craig Burns and Rachel Hoffman and Clear Talent NY's agent Jamie Harris.

Over two thousand students have participated in the BDF program and some have gone on to star on Broadway, pursue careers in the arts or attend prestigious theatre programs in universities throughout the United States.

For more information, please visit www.mybroadwaydreams.com.