Star-Studded 'DEFYING INEQUALITY' Benefit Concert Soars at Gershwin 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). The special star-studded evening will feature performers from stage & screen - from Saturday Night Live to Spring Awakening - all to benefit Family Equality Council, Empire State Pride Agenda, Equality California, Garden State Equality, and The Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force. For tickets and information, please contact Ticketmaster at (212) 307-4100 and visit www.defyinginequality.com.

The special evening, hosted 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 (Marc Shaiman will also be performing at the event) and a special performance by Stephen Schwartz (Oscar winner and Tony nominated composer of Broadway's smash hit Wicked), plus, in alphabetical order: Douglas Carter Beane (Tony Award nominee), PJ Benjamin (Wicked), Stephanie J. Block (Wicked), Tamara Braun (All My Children), Kerry Butler (Tony Award nominee), Lynda Carter (Wonder Woman), Gavin Creel (Tony Award nominee), Harvey Fierstein (Tony Award winner), John Gallagher, Jr. (Tony Award winner), Jonathan Groff (Tony Award nominee), Cheyenne Jackson (Xanadu, All Shook Up), Capathia Jenkins (Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, Caroline, or Change);), Carson Kressley (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy), 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), Nicole Parker (MAD TV, Wicked), Billy Porter (Ghetto Superstar), Rosie's Broadway Kids, Seth Rudesky (Sirius Radio, Seth's Broadway Chatterbox), Michael Urie (Ugly Betty), The Broadway Boys, Don't Quit Your Night Job, the closing cast of Gypsy, the cast of Jersey Boys, the cast of The Lion King, the cast of The Little Mermaid, the cast of Mary Poppins, cast members from Saturday Night Live, the cast of Sesame Street, original cast members from Spring Awakening, the cast of 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, 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.