On February 16th at 7:00 pm, Michele Helberg and Jamie McGonnigal will present the 3rd Annual embrace! concert to benefit The Matthew Shepard Foundation. The concert will take place at the Westside Theatre at 407 West 43rd Street (between 9th and 10th Avenues), the current home of the long-running off-Broadway hit, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change.
embrace! will be directed by Jamie McGonnigal, Artistic Producer of the World AIDS Day Concerts of The Secret Garden, Pippin and Children of Eden, and music directed byAvenue Q conductor, Mark Hartman. Next Magazine, Remy, ECRU New York, PaperWords.com, Albatross Bar, HX Magazine, New York Blade, Coors Brewing Company, DIFFA, BCEFA and LATITUDE are the sponsors.
The Matthew Shepard Foundation was founded by Dennis and Judy Shepard in memory of their 21-year old son, Matthew, who was murdered in an anti-gay hate crime in Wyoming in October 1998. Created to honor Matthew in a manner that was appropriate to his dreams, beliefs and aspirations, the Foundation seeks to "Replace Hate with Understanding, Compassion & Acceptance" through its varied educational programs and by continuing to tell Matthew's story. To learn more about Matthew and the Matthew Shepard Foundation, please visit www.MatthewShepard.org.
embrace! will feature songs which celebrate diversity, inspiration and hope and all proceeds will benefit The Matthew Shepard Foundation in its mission to replace hate with understanding. Last year's concert raised thousands for the foundation and spawned embrace! concerts in several other cities around the country.
Tickets may be ordered online at www.MatthewShepard.org or by calling 646-289-6864. An after-party will take place at LATITUDE, 783 Eighth Avenue between 47th and 48th Streets.