Following the tragic event that took place at Pulse nightclub in Orlando on June 12, the Broadway and Orlando theatre communities will unite tonight, Monday, July 25 at 7:30 pm at the Disney Theatre in the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts to perform FROM BROADWAY WITH LOVE: A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR ORLANDO; a healing night of music and dance to honor the 49 victims.
The evening features performances and special appearances from some of the biggest names on Broadway including Darren Criss ("Glee"), Chita Rivera (two-time Tony Award winner), Norbert Leo Butz (two-time Tony Award winner), Kelli O'Hara (Tony Award winner), Jessie Mueller (Tony Award winner, currently in WAITRESS), Wilson Cruz ("My So Called Life"), Brian Stokes Mitchell (Tony Award Winner), Carmen Cusack (BRIGHT STAR), Andrea McArdle (original ANNIE), Lilla Crawford ("Into The Woods" film), Priscilla Lopez (A CHORUS LINE), Lillias White (Tony Award winner), Liz Callaway (MISS SAIGON), Josh Henry (SHUFFLE ALONG), Keala Settle (WAITRESS), Anika Larsen (BEAUTIFUL), Justin Sargent (SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK), Carrie Manolakos (MAMMA MIA!), as well as Sirius XM Broadway hosts Seth Rudetsky and Christine Pedi. The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, who will donate their performance as one of the sponsors for the evening, will accompany the performers. Michael J. Moritz (Tony Award Nominee) will serve as Music Director. Visit frombroadwaywithlove.org.
Seth Rudetsky sent fans a couple of tastes of what's in store this evening via social media, with a video of Norbert Leo Butz and Justin Sargent working out harmonies and another of Anika Larsen and Keala Settle belting out the RENT favorite, "Take Me or Leave Me."
Net proceeds raised from the performance (royalties and artist fees waived) by From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert For Orlando will be donated equally between the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida, Hope and Help Center of Central Florida and Zebra Coalition. A forthcoming CD and DVD of the concert will also be available at www.BroadwayRecords.com, Amazon.com and more, with 100 percent of profits benefitting the three designated non-profit organizations.
Many of the artists participating in FROM BROADWAY WITH LOVE: A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR ORLANDO gathered at Avatar Studios on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in New York City for a benefit recording of the iconic 1965 song "What the World Needs Now is Love" as part of the Broadway for Orlando charitable initiative. The record reached No. 1 on the iTunes song chart in its first week and broke into the Billboard Top 100 with no commercial radio play.
The Orlando benefit concert is co-produced by Imagine Orlando, LLC (comprised of Tony Award winner Kenny Howard of Florida Theatrical Assoc., Joyce Arbucias of The Imagination House, Andrea Canny of PerformerStuff.com, Chris Yakubchik of Forster Boughman and Lefkowitz), Seth Rudetsky, James Wesley, Michael J. Moritz, Jr. and Broadway Records (Van Dean, president; Tony Award winning/Grammy nominated producer/co-conceiver of the first From Broadway with Love - A Benefit Concert for Sandy Hook).
FROM BROADWAY WITH LOVE: A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR ORLANDO is created by Seth Rudetsky, Kenny Howard and James Wesley; directed by Kenny Howard; written by Michael Wanzie with musical direction by Michael J. Moritz.
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