A highlight of tomorrow's benefit concert for the Matthew Shepard
Foundation at Birdland will be Max von Essen's performance of "Not
Afraid," from Michael Arden's "Easter Rising." Von Essen, who has
starred on and off-Broadway in Dance of the Vampires and Finian's
Rainbow, says, "It's the first time I've sung the song...but it's so
incredibly beautiful. It's captures the moment when a man realizes he's
in love with another man. It seems very appropriate for the evening,
since we're celebrating the life of Matthew Shepard, who lost his life
because of who he loved."
Also in the concert will be Christopher Sieber (Spamalot, Chicago),
singer/songwriter Randi Driscoll with Noah Heldman, Dave Eggar, and
David Gurland, pop duo Jason & DeMarco, cabaret superstar Billy
Stritch and host Jim Caruso.
The evening will celebrate The Matthew Shepard Foundation, named in
memory of the young college student who lost his life in a vicious
anti-gay hate crime in October of 1998. Members of the Matthew Shepard
Foundation, along with his mother, Judy Shepard, will be on hand to
honor his memory and celebrate his life with music.
Tickets are available online at www.birdlandjazz.com
An Evening of Music Celebrating The Matthew Shepard Foundation
Monday, October 10 at 7pm
Birdland - 315 West 44th Street, NYC
Reservations - www.birdlandjazz.com
212-581-3080