Corbin Bleu to Host The Actors Fund's Looking Ahead Awards, Honoring Youth Cast of NBC's THIS IS US

The Actors Fund announced today that stage and screen star Corbin Bleu will host the 2017 Looking Ahead Awards on Tuesday, December 5 at Taglyan Complex in Hollywood. Tickets are now on sale at www.actorsfund.org/LookingAheadAwards.

The Looking Ahead Awards gala celebrates leaders in the current and former young performer community who inspire the world by living the Looking Ahead Program's core values of growth, education, leadership and community service.

Five awards will be presented including the Elizabeth Taylor Award for Social Awareness to the youth cast of NBC's hit series "This Is Us." The award is presented annually to the youth cast of a Current TV show that is raising awareness about important societal issues though their roles.

Additional honorees will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Looking Ahead Program was created in 2003 in partnership with SAG-AFTRA to work with youth between the ages of 9 and 18, helping them develop the values, skills and confidence they need to make successful transitions to fulfilling adult lives. Now serving more than 400 youths, families and alumni, the program aims to create a nurturing environment where young performers get support through individual, family and education counseling, leadership development, community service and social events. Looking Ahead is guided by an Advisory Committee of professionals in youth development and youth-related entertainment, which is co-chaired by actor, director and producer Fred Savage and freelance casting director and former head of casting at Nickelodeon Sharon Lieblein.

Looking Ahead Advisory Committee member Corbin Bleu comes from an extensive background in film, television and the theater. He is perhaps best known for his role as Chad Danford in the "High School Musical" franchise and for partnering with Karina Smirnoff on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," placing a close second. Corbin most recently starred on Broadway as Ted in "Holiday Inn: The New Irving Berlin Musical" for which he won The Chita Rivera Award for Best Male Dancer in a Broadway show. Other memorable Broadway credits include Jesus in the revival of "Godspell," which followed his rave reviews as Usnavi in "In the Heights." Another stage highlight was "Hairspray" at the Hollywood Bowl, starring as "Seaweed" opposite Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur. In July 2017, Corbin starred as "Skye" in "Mamma Mia!" at the Hollywood Bowl opposite Dove Cameron and Jennifer Nettles. His many credits include the TV series "The Fosters," "Castle," "Blue Bloods," "Psych" and "Chicago Med," and the films "To Write On Her Arms," "Nurse 3-D" and "The Monkey's Paw."

The Actors Fund is a national human services organization that fosters stability and resiliency, and provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals over their lifespan. Through offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, The Fund serves everyone in film, theater, television, music, opera, radio and dance with programs including social services and emergency financial assistance, health care and insurance counseling, housing, and secondary employment and training services. Visit www.actorsfund.org.

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