Sharpton Joins 'DEFYING INEQUALITY' Benefit Cast List, Gold & Kressley to Co-Host 2/23

On Monday evening, February 23 at 8:00pm, the Broadway community (and beyond) is coming together for one of the most important events of the year - Defying Inequality: The Broadway Concert -- A Celebrity Benefit for Equal Rights, a one-night only concert event at the Gershwin Theatre (222 W. 51st Street).

Featured in the star-studded evening are performers from stage & screen - all to benefit equal right organizations including: Family Equality Council, Empire State Pride Agenda, Equality California, Garden State Equality, and The Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force. 

The special evening, presented by the Broadway cast of Wicked, will include the Broadway debut of Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award winner Marc Shaiman's Prop 8 - The Musical, (as produced by Funnyordie.com), Shaiman will reprise his role and perform, a special performance by Stephen Schwartz (Oscar winner and Tony nominated composer of Broadway's smash hit Wicked), and a special appearance by Grammy Award-winner Cyndi Lauper. Plus, in alphabetical order: Douglas Carter Beane (Tony Award nominee), Shoshana Bean (Wicked), PJ Benjamin (Wicked), Mike Birbiglia (Sleepwalk With Me), Stephanie J. Block (Wicked), Tamara Braun (All My Children),Daniel Breaker (Tony Award nominee), Kerry Butler (Tony Award nominee), Lynda Carter (Wonder Woman), Gavin Creel (Tony Award nominee), Paige Davis (Trading Spaces), Harvey Fierstein (Tony Award winner), John Gallagher, Jr. (Tony Award winner), Judy Gold - event co-host - (Emmy Award winner), Jonathan Groff (Tony Award nominee), The Gay Men's Chorus, Malcolm Gets (The Story of My Life, Caroline In The City), Jane Houdyshell (Wicked, The Receptionist), CrystAl Hunt (One Life To Live), Mark Indelicato (Ugly Betty), Allison Janney (9 to 5, The West Wing), Capathia Jenkins (Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, Caroline, or Change), Carson Kressley - event co-host - (Emmy Award winner), Nathan Lane (Tony Award winner). Laughing Pizza (Parents Choice Awards, PBS daily), Adriane Lenox (Tony Award winner), Cameron Mathison (All My Children, Dancing With the Stars), Rue McClanahan (Golden Girls, Sordid Lives), Phyllis Newman (Tony Award winner), Patrick Paige (How the Grinch Stole Christmas), Nicole Parker (MAD TV, Wicked), David Hyde Pierce (Tony Award winner), Billy Porter (Ghetto Superstar), Seth Rudesky (Sirius Radio, Seth's Broadway Chatterbox), Sherri Saum (Rescue Me, In Treatment), Rev. Al Sharpton (Civil Rights/Social Justice Activist), Christopher Sieber (Shrek, Spamalot), Carole Shelley (Tony Award winner), Doug Spearman (Noah's Ark), Tamara Tunie (Law & Order: SVU), Michael Urie (Ugly Betty), Scott Wittman (Tony & Grammy Award winner), The Broadway Boys, Don't Quit Your Night Job, members of the closing cast of Gypsy, cast members from Billy Elliot, cast members from Jersey Boys, cast members from The Color Purple National Tour, cast members from The Lion King, cast members from The Little Mermaid, cast members from Mary Poppins, cast members from Saturday Night Live, cast members from Sesame Street, cast members from South Pacific, original cast members from Spring Awakening, cast members from Wicked, and more.

The concert will be directed by Schele Williams and Anthony Galde, with musical direction by James Sampliner.

100% of the profits from this spectacular event will be donated directly to Family Equality Council, Empire State Pride Agenda, Equality California, Garden State Equality, and The Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force, five charitable organizations working to promote equality and protect civil rights for the gay and lesbian community.

Defying Inequality: The Broadway Concert, A Celebrity Benefit for Equal Rights, is produced by 4Good Productions, in association with B. Swibel Presents, the same presenters of the 2005 event Broadway's Celebrity Benefit for Hurricane Relief at the Gershwin Theatre. Featuring over 200 Broadway performers, the 2005 event raised more than $200,000 in just one night.

Special thanks to the producers of Wicked and the Nederlander Organization for generously donating the Gershwin Theatre for the evening.

For tickets and information, please call Ticketmaster at 212-301-4100 and visit the event website: www.defyinginequality.com.