Raul Esparza, Constantine Maroulis & More Join ASTEP's Christmas Benefit

Raul Esparza, Constantine Maroulis and Sean Zuni Green to join the lineup at Artists Striving to End Poverty's Eighth Annual New York City Christmas: A Concert to Benefit ASTEP, taking place on Monday, December 12 at 7:00 PM at Joe's Pub at The Public in New York City. Additional exclusive experiences from Cats the Musical on Broadway and Wicked have been added to the special auction through Charitybuzz, featuring opportunities from Hamilton, "Kristin Chenoweth's National Tour", and set visits to shows such as Law & Order: SVU with star Raul Esparza.

What better way to get into the holiday spirit than an evening featuring Broadway's most sought-after talent singing new and classic holiday songs...with a twist! Along with your seasonal favorites, expect fresh, original approaches - pop, soul, R&B, rock and more - many of them captured on the Sh-KBoom/Ghostlight album "New York City Christmas," available for purchase at the concert.

Conceived and produced by Drama Desk-nominated orchestrator Lynne Shankel (Allegiance, Cry-Baby, Altar Boyz), the concert will again boast an incredible line-up of artists, including Raul Esparza (Company, Taboo, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Kate Baldwin (Big Fish, Finian's Rainbow) Sierra Boggess (School of Rock, The Little Mermaid), Constantine Maroulis (Rock of Ages, Jekyll and Hyde), Chester Gregory (Sister Act, Dreamgirls, Hairspray), Sean Zuni Green, David Josefsberg (Honeymoon In Vegas, The Wedding Singer, Altar Boyz), Lindsay Mendez (Wicked, Godspell, Everyday Rapture), Derek Klena (Wicked, Carrie), Kenita Miller (Merrily We Roll Along, Ragtime), Lauren Pritchard (Spring Awakening), Kay Trinidad (The Little Mermaid, Bare), Elizabeth Stanley (On the Town, Million Dollar Quartet, Company), recording artist Anya Singleton, Helen White and many more. The concert will be directed by Stafford Arima (Allegiance, Bare: The Musical, Carrie). *Performers subject to change.

Also appearing will be musicians Shankel (on piano), Joe Mowatt (drums/percussion), Randy Landau (bass), Peter Calo (guitar), Jim Hershman (guitars), Max Mosten (violin), Summer Boggess (cello), Colin Brigstocke (trumpet), Scott Kreitzer (saxophone) and Jeff Schiller (saxophone).

Tickets are $100.00 each for premium seats, $75.00 each for general seating. ALL proceeds from tickets to the show and album sales go to supporting ASTEP's mission to connect performing and visual artists with underserved kids, using the arts awakening their imaginations, fostering critical thinking, and helping them break the cycle of poverty. ASTEP places volunteer artists in India, South Africa, the Dominican Republic, New York and Florida and supports the efforts of ASTEP Chapters in more than a dozen communities around the U.S.

A special silent auction will also be held during the concert, featuring sought-after items such as:

• 2 VIP Tickets to HAMILTON on Broadway with Exclusive Backstage Tour
• 2 VIP Tickets to HAMILTON in Chicago with Exclusive Backstage Tour
• Meet Kristin Chenoweth When You Attend Rehearsal and Sound Check Before Her Concert Plus Post-Show Backstage Access (specific dates apply)
• Meet Raul Esparza When You Visit the Set of LAW & ORDER: SVU in NYC

Tickets are available for purchase online through the Joe's Pub website or at the box office at The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette Street. Seating is limited.

For more information about ASTEP visit www.astep.org or e-mail Davinia Troughton at davinia@asteponline.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos