Von Essen, Stark, Gurland et al. Join 'Randi Driscoll And Friends In Concert,' June 24

'Randi Driscoll and friends in concert' a special concert event will be performed June 24 to benefit the Matthew Shepard Foundation. The concert will be presented at the Laurie Beechman Theatre at 8pm.

Joining Driscoll will be Leenya Rideout, David Gurland, Josh Zuckerman, Noah Heldman, Max Von Essen, and Tracy Stark, hosting the evening will be Jason Drew.

In 2000 Driscoll recorded the song 'What Matters' about Shepard, sales of the song benefitted the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

The Laurie Beechman Theatre is located at 407 West 42nd Street below the West Bank Cafe. To make a reservation call (212)695-6909.

Randi Driscoll is a singer and songwriter whose original music, voice and passionate stage performances have earned her many accolades including; Campus Activities Magazine's, "Female Performer of the Year 2004" and "Best Small Venue Performer 2004". Her performance credits include opening slots for Bob Weir's Ratdog, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Hornsby, Dar Williams, Jonatha Brooke, Pat Benatar, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne and many others. Randi has performed at Lincoln Center in the "Bang on a Can Festival", the 2001 HRC dinner in Washington, D.C., with keynote speaker, Hillary Clinton, and the New York City Hall Pride Awards honoring Whoopi Goldberg and Olympia Dukakis. Randi's music has been featured in docu- mentaries, commercials, and the WB hit series, "Dawson's Creek". Without any major label behind her, Randi has been able to sell over 20,000 CDs and successfully tour the country, building a devoted following.

In 1998 Driscoll wrote the song 'What Matters' in response to the death of Matthew Shepard. "What Matters" has become the official benefit single for the Matthew Shepard Foundation, a charity started by Matthew's parents whose goal is to replace hate with understanding, compassion and acceptance. To date, the benefit single has raised over $40,000 for the foundation and has been featured in several documentaries as well as a commercial directed by Spike Lee that aired during the 1999 Academy Awards. "What Matters" was also featured in the NBC film, "The Matthew Shepard Story", starring Sam Waterston and Stockard Channing.

Proceeds from the sheet music also benefit the foundation exclusively and the choral version of "What Matters", arranged by Kevin Robison, has been performed all over the world, including concerts at New York's Carnegie Hall, Place des Artes in Montreal, and the Disney Hall in Los Angeles.

A documentary based on the making of Randi's song, "What Matters", has won several film awards, including the 2006 Summit International Silver Award Winner in Creative Excellence and the Spring 2006 DV Award Winner. Randi has performed the song over 1,000 times and the film documents Randi's journey with this song, her travels performing it nationwide, and the creation of the music video.

Randi is an independent artist who tours and performs year round at colleges, clubs, festivals, and benefit concerts.

For more information visit MatthewShepard.org

The Matthew Shepard Foundation is an LGBT rights group founded in December 1998 by Dennis and Judy Shepard in memory of their 21-year old son, Matthew, who was murdered in Wyoming in October 1998[1].

Created to honor Matthew in a manner that was appropriate to his dreams, beliefs and aspirations, the Foundation seeks to "Replace Hate with Understanding, Compassion & Acceptance" through its varied educational, outreach and advocacy programs and by continuing to tell Matthew's story.[2]

The Foundation focuses on three primary areas: erasing hate in society; putting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth first; and ensuring equality for all LGBT Americans.