Photo Coverage: Lindsay Mendez, Derek Klena, Sierra Boggess & More Perform at ASTEP's Holiday Benefit Concert
By: Kevin Thomas Garcia Dec. 16, 2014
Artists Striving to End Poverty (ASTEP) just held its Sixth Annual New York City Christmas: A Concert to Benefit ASTEP, taking place last night, December 15 at Joe's Pub at The Public in New York City. Back by popular demand, the evening featured Broadway's most sought-after talent singing new and classic holiday songs. Two new special releases are now available for purchase: "I Got All I Need (This Christmas)" an original song written by Lynne Shankel and Jon Hartmere sung by Lindsay Mendez (Wicked, Godspell, Everyday Rapture) and Derek Klena (The Bridges of Madison County, Wicked, Carrie, Dogfight) and a hip-hop version of "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" (music by Shankel) sung by Aurelia Williams (Sistas, The Musical, Papermill's Once On This Island), Kenita Miller (Merrily We Roll Along, Ragtime) and Kay Trinidad (The Little Mermaid, Bare) based on the traditional poem. The two songs were recorded on Yellow Sound Label are available on iTunes and wherever digital music is sold. All proceeds go to benefit ASTEP.
Conceived and produced by Drama Desk-nominated orchestrator Lynne Shankel (Cry-Baby, Altar Boyz), New York City Christmas: A Concert to Benefit ASTEP, boasted an incredible line-up of artists, including Lindsay Mendez, Derek Klena, Sierra Boggess (Love Never Dies, Master Class, The Little Mermaid), Chester Gregory (Sister Act, Dreamgirls, Hairspray), Andrew Call (American Idiot, Altar Boyz), David Josefsberg (Honeymoon In Vegas, The Wedding Singer, Altar Boyz), Telly Leung (Godspell, Glee), recording artist Anya Singleton, Kenita Miller, Kay Trinidad, Sally Wilfert (Make Me A Song, Assassins, Tom Sawyer), Lauren Pritchard (Spring Awakening), Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, Rock of Ages, West Side Story) and many more. The concert will be directed by Stafford Arima(Bare: The Musical, Carrie, Allegiance).
Also appearing were musicians Shankel (on piano), Joe Mowatt (drums/percussion), Randy Landau (bass), Peter Calo and Michael Aarons (guitars), Summer Boggess (cello), Max Mosten (violin), Barry Danielian (trumpet), and Scott Kreitzer and Cliff Lyons (saxophones).
For information on how to get involved or to donate, visit www.astep.org.
Photo Credit: Kevin Thomas Garcia
The Cast of New York City Christmas
Kay Trinidad, Kenita Miller and Helen White
Kay Trinidad, Kenita Miller and Helen White
Sierra Boggess and Lindsay Mendez
Sierra Boggess and Lindsay Mendez
Sierra Boggess and Lindsay Mendez
Sierra Bogges
Lauren Pritchard and Andrew Call
Derek Klena and Lindsay Mendez
The Cast of New York City Christmas
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