Harada, Esparza, Tartaglia & More Set for CHRISTMAS EVE ON CHRISTMAS EVE, 12/14

On Monday, December 14th, Ann Harada will resurrect her character "Christmas Eve" from the Tony Award-winning musical Avenue Q for a one night only holiday cabaret entitled Christmas Eve With Christmas Eve. The evening will take place at The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space @ WNYC (44 Charlton Street at Varick) with all proceeds benefiting Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS.

Christmas Eve, the beloved, opinionated, heavily-accented therapist from Avenue Q, makes her holiday fantasies come true in this evening of song and comedy that both skewers and pays tribute to the great romantic duets and iconic moments of Broadway. No lyricist will be spared as she re-interprets the modern songbook with the help of some of Broadway's most talented, hilarious and gorgeous leading men. Scheduled to help Harada "haul out the holly" are Paul Castree, Jeremy Davis, Raul Esparza, Andy Karl, Michael Mindlin, Christopher Sieber, John Tartaglia, Chip Zien and a "very special appearance" by Norm Lewis. Conceived and written by Gary Adler, Ann Harada and Alan Muraoka, the evening will be directed by Alan Muraoka with choreography by Michael Mindlin and musical direction of Gary Adler.

Ann Harada (Christmas Eve) originated the role of Christmas Eve in both the Broadway and London productions of the Tony Award-winning musical Avenue Q. Her other Broadway credits include 9 to 5, Les Miserables, Seussical The Musical and M. Butterfly. She was also featured in the Actors Fund productions of Chess and Hair. Recent TV work includes "Lipstick Jungle" (as Victory Ford's mother), "Cashmere Mafia," "Johnny and the Sprites," and "The Electric Company."

Alan Muraoka‘s New York Theatre credits include Falsettoland for the National Asian American Theatre Company (Vineyard Theatre), the world premiere of Karaoke Series for the IMUA Theater Company, four Leading Men benefit concerts for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Empty Handed, a benefit concert starring the puppeteers of Broadway's Avenue Q, and cabarets for Tony-nominated actresses Stephanie D'Abruzzo and Ann Harada. He directed the Tony-nominated actor John Tartaglia (Avenue Q) in his one-man show, John Tartaglia AD-LIBerty, which ran at Joe's Pub at The Public Theatre, and won numerous cabaret awards.

Tickets for the event range in price from $50 to $75, and benefit the Broadway Care/Equity Fights Aids charity. $75 ticket buyers will also receive a poster autographed by the cast. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling the box office at 212-840-0770 x268.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) is the nation's leading industry-based, not-for-profit AIDS fundraising and grant making organization. BC/EFA is the on-going, committed response from the American Theatre community to an urgent worldwide health crisis. By drawing upon the talents, resources, and generosity of this community, BC/EFA raises funds for AIDS-related causes across the United States. Since its founding in 1988, BC/EFA has raised over $140 million for critically needed services for people with AIDS, HIV or HIV-related illnesses.

BC/EFA is the major supporter of six programs at The Actors' Fund - including The AIDS Initiative, The Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative, 2 supportive housing residences and the Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic at The Aurora in NYC - and awards grants to over 400 AIDS and family service organizations yearly.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayCares.org.