Giovanni and Spaulding Join Safe Space Event, 9/13

Safe Space, an agency that serves at-risk children and families in Queens, is proud to announce that professional performers from Broadway in South Africa have agreed to participate in a free community concert at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center on Monday, Sept. 13, 2010, starting at 7 p.m. The stars will teach -- and then perform with -- youth from Safe Space's programs.

Safe Space has now announced that, in addition to the previously announced Sean Bradford, Brandon Victor Dixon, Frankie James Grande, and Adam Kantor, the event will feature Kearran Giovanni (FINIAN'S RAINBOW, GUYS & DOLLS, TARZAN, SWEET CHARITY, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG) and Christopher Spaulding (CURTAINS).  Jen Bender will direct, and Larry Adelman will produce.

Safe Space moved to its brand new Headquarters in the heart of downtown Jamaica in July. Now the agency will celebrate this momentous relocation with a special, one-hour concert that is expected to attract hundreds of people, including elected officials, civic leaders, and neighborhood businesses.

The list of confirmed performers and teachers reads like a Who's Who list of current Broadway talent. Sean Bradford, Broadway in South Africa's Executive Director and co-founder, was in The Lion King and is in the original cast of Broadway's upcoming The Scottsboro Boys. He was also a finalist on the CBS television special My Broadway Debut. Brandon Victor Dixon was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in The Color Purple. He was also in The Lion King and will play Ray Charles in the upcoming Unchain My Heart. Frankie James Grande made his Broadway debut in Mamma Mia! Adam Kantor made his Broadway debut as Mark Cohen in Rent and appeared in the 2010 Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal.

"This event is a celebration of our long-term commitment to Queens and our strategy to provide comprehensive services to children and families," said Christine Molnar, Safe Space President and CEO. "It will be a terrific show, and I am so excited to see our children performing with the stars from Broadway in South Africa."

The law firm Latham & Watkins LLP is the event's Presenting Sponsor, and Broadway in South Africa and the Jamaica Performing Arts Center are Major Sponsors. Faith and Roger Arner, Gail and Saul Kupferberg, Jason Lee and The Door Restaurant are Sponsors. Addie Guttag, law firm Putney, Twombly, Hall & Hirson LLP, The Ruggieri Consulting LLC and A1 Works-in-Progress Associates are Friends.

With the strong belief that everybody deserves to live in a healthy and secure environment, Safe Space offers a wide array of services focusing on mental health, community health, at-risk youth, violence prevention and school-based education enrichment. Based in Southeastern Queens with a strong presence in Jamaica, Far Rockaway and Richmond Hill, Safe Space annually works for more than 10,000 individuals, including some of the most disadvantaged children and families in New York State.

Broadway in South Africa aims to develop a cross-cultural exchange between youth who are in need and artists who seek to use their talents for change. The project is comprised of professional artists who believe that, through performance and outreach, art can impact the development of youth throughout the world.

For more information, visit www.safespacenyc.org.

Photo Credit: Linda Lenzi