Roz Ryan & More to Perform at Development Wing's BROADWAY UNDER THE STARS Benefit Concert

The Development Wing, a non-profit organization whose mission is to support the creation of new American musicals, will present its fourth annual Broadway Under the Stars benefit concert on Saturday, June 6, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. The exclusive, one-night-only event will be hosted by acclaimed writer/lyricist Jonathan Brielle, Artistic Director of The Development Wing and Vice President of The Johnny Mercer Foundation, and will feature musical performances by Broadway's best, including Roz Ryan (Chicago, Ain't Misbehavin'), Cole Burden (Murder Ballad), Brooke Sunny Moriber (The Threepenny Opera), Ken Prymus (Cats, The Wiz), Patricia Noonan (Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice), along with young artists, Jenna Downs, Jake Swain, and more. Directed by Michael Bush with Musical Direction by Jeffrey Klitz, Broadway Under the Stars will take place on the grounds of the historic Tewksbury, New Jersey home of producer, Cherie King. Tickets are $150 and can be purchased by emailing developmentwing@gmail.com or by calling (908) 832-0123. Proceeds enable The Development Wing to award grants to theaters and artists who are actively involved in creating and producing new musicals.

"Jonathan and I are thrilled to host yet another incredible evening of entertainment to benefit the mission of The Development Wing," said producer Cherie King (Himself and Nora). "We're excited to announce that a portion of this year's proceeds will go to the Open Jar Institute. The incredible organization, dedicated to training the next generation of musical theatre artists, will once again host 60 students in NYC this summer for a week-long musical theatre intensive with a final showcase performance at The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF)."

The Broadway stars will be accompanied by a world-class band, assembled exclusively for the concert by Brielle. The 8-piece band is comprised of talented players who have performed with such renown artists as the Rolling Stones, Phil Collins, Sting, Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Annie Lenox, Lenny Kravitz, Tony Bennett, Nelly, Bob Dylan, and more. The band includes musical director Jeffrey Klitz (keyboard), Vito Chizvuzzo (saxophone), Mike Davis (trombone), Clint de Ganon (drums), Dave Finck (upright and electric bass), Jim Hynes (trumpet / arranger), Larry Saltzman (guitar), and Andy Snitzer (saxophone).

In addition to performances from Broadway's biggest hit musicals, Broadway Under the Stars will feature selections from new musicals currently in development, including Himself and Nora, 40 Naked Women A Monkey and Me, Nightmare Alley, Academy, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, and more. The evening will also include an elegant wine, signature cocktail and light hors d'oeuvre reception together with premier live and silent auctions.

Guests are welcome to stroll the bucolic grounds and will listen under the stars outside the main house, built in 1742. Also on the property is an 1850 schoolhouse which Brielle converted into a state of the art digital studio able to accommodate up to 15 players.

Attendees may also bid on a variety of exciting silent auction items, including a Fre?de?rique Constant Watch, "Three Trees" by artist Maureen Chatfield, VIP house seats to the 2015 Tony Award-nominated "Best Musical" and "Best Revival," Something Rotten and On the Town, "Derriere en bleu," Derwent Pencil on Paper by artist Arturo Palumbo, and "Remembering Water," vinyl and oil on board by artist Raffaele D'Onofrio. The live auction will feature a 6 day and 6 night African Safari at Zulu Nyala, located in Kwazulu-Natal, a recording session engineered at Brielle Studios, Baltusrol golf twosome plus lunch, and a case of mixed wine with dinner for twelve at BEX prepared by Chef Becky Geisel.

For more information on The Development Wing, please visit: www.developmentwing.org.