Starry A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC Gala to Benefit Riverdale YM-YWHA This Month

Broadway luminaries and Riverdale's most talented performers will join forces for a Gala concert production of the Stephen Sondheim/Hugh Wheeler musical A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. The one-night only event will feature an onstage 21-piece orchestra, and will be performed at the Riverdale YM-YWHA on Sunday, March 29, 2015 at 7:30pm.

The honorees for this event are Gail and Jonathan Schorsch, longtime supporters of the Riverdale YM-YWHA for their many years of dedication to the performing arts.

This one-night only Gala event will benefit programs at the Riverdale Y, including the Riverdale Rising Stars scholarship fund, which will enable children and teens to participate in the organization's theatrical productions.

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC will be performed at the Riverdale YM-YWHA, located at 5625 Arlington Avenue (just off of Riverdale Avenue and West 256th Street), in Riverdale, Bronx, NY. Tax-deductible tickets begin at $30 for general admission tickets; higher giving levels also include benefits like VIP seats, program ads, and admission to the pre-show reception. General admission tickets and benefactors packages may be purchased by visiting www.riverdaley.org/nightmusic.

Come spend a weekend in the country! Set in 1900 Sweden, the critically-acclaimed A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC waltzes and whirls around actress Desirée Armfeldt and the men who love her. Based on Ingmar Bergman's comedy of manners, Smiles of a Summer Night, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC is a romantic musical full of hilariously witty and heartbreakingly moving moments of adoration, regret and rekindled desire.

This musical celebration of love with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by High Wheeler won 4 Tony Awards in 1973, including "Best Musical." The 2009 Broadway revival won a Tony Award for star Catherine Zeta-Jones. The show contains Sondheim's most popular song, the Grammy Award-winning "Send in the Clowns."

This one-night-only concert event stars Beth Fowler ("Orange is the New Black," Tony nominee for The Boy from Oz and the 1989 revival of Sweeney Todd, and a member of the original cast of the 1973 Broadway production of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC) as Madame Armfeldt. Joining her are Riverdale Rising Stars Director of Performing Arts Laurie Walton (the Broadway revival of Show Boat), alongside New York City theatre veterans Jenni Barber (The Nance, Wicked)Jamey Hood (The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World), Justin Keyes (How to Succeed, Mary Poppins), Joey Sorge (Nice Work If You Can Get It, How to Succeed), Emily Walton (Peter and the Starcatcher, August: Osage County), and Edward Watts (Scandalous).

The cast is rounded out by current and past Riverdale Rising Stars and Riverdale Repertory Company members including Lily Bayrock, Hayden Briklin, Philip Feldman, Nava Schorsch, Mason Taub, and Alex Walton.

This concert production will be directed by Bob Walton (performer in The Drowsy Chaperone and 42nd Street on Broadway), and the onstage 21-piece orchestra will be conducted by music director Justin Fischer.

Riverdale Rising Stars, under the artistic direction of Laurie Walton, was created to provide the teens of the Riverdale community and beyond a professional repertory company experience. Since its inception 13 years ago, the organization has expanded its programming to include Rising Stars Jr (ages 8-12), Riverdale Repertory Company (adult performers), and launching this spring, Little Rising Stars (ages 6-8). Of greatest importance is the way that all build self-esteem, learn enormous respect for others, develop camaraderie and create lifelong friendships. Together, these award-winning companies provide a world of expression, passion and creativity for all ages.

In addition to A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, upcoming productions include URINETOWN May 9-17 (teen performers), and ANNIE June 4-14 (child performers). For more information about upcoming productions, visit www.RiverdaleRisingStars.com.

The mission of the Riverdale YM-YWHA is to be the hub that brings together members of the Jewish and wider community. At the Y, individuals and families of all backgrounds and abilities gather to grow, to learn, and to deepen their understanding of themselves and their connections to one another. Rooted in Jewish values, our cultural, social, educational, health and wellness programs offer members of all ages multiple pathways into the richness of our local community life. Through our programs and partnerships, we strive to improve the quality of life in the Riverdale community and celebrate its uniqueness and its diversity. www.RiverdaleY.org

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