Victoria Clark, Betsy Wolfe and More RAISE THE ROOF! in Benefit Concert Tonight

Upper West Siders, Victoria Clark, Jessica Fontana, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, Howard McGillin, Mary Beth Peil, Sherie Rene Scott and Allyson Tucker and other Broadway favorites, Derrick Baskin, Joe Carroll, Corey Cott, Brian Cross, Chris Houlihan, Andrea Jones, Erin Mackey, Alexandra Silber, Daniel J. Watts and Betsy Wolfe (along with singer-songwriters Jane Kelly Williams and Shaina Taub) celebrate the holidays and raise funds for much needed repairs for the historic Church of St Paul and St. Andrew.

This evening, December 14, "RAISE THE ROOF: A Broadway Holiday-ish Benefit Celebration" will be filled with song, poetry and jubilee from this all-star lineup. The benefit is produced by Gina Boonshoft and directed by Barbara Grecki. The musical director is Matt Aument.

The Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew United Methodist (SPSA) on Manhattan's Upper West Side is so much more than a place for Sunday morning worshipping. It is a vital part of the fabric of New York City. This 19th century brick and terra-cotta church houses a progressive Methodist congregation; its sanctuary is used by the neighboring B'nai Jeshurun congregation on Saturday mornings to accommodate their growing numbers; Rivers of Living Water, an African American LGBT congregation worships there on Sunday afternoons; the West Side Campaign Against Hunger, an innovative, and NYC's largest food pantry is housed in the cellar; a women's shelter, run in conjunction with B'nai Jeshurun provides a meal and a bed for homeless women; and a tutoring program for K-12 children meets weekly, are just some of the many community activities housed in this beautiful, very old building.

Ongoing maintenance, as well as much-needed repair of the church, especially its roof, proves to be a daunting undertaking. SPSA's congregation is donating and raising funds to help deflect the overwhelming costs incurred by the above. Many of the repairs can no longer wait to be satisfied with a band-aid any longer. The goal of this delightful evening of music is to raise funds from the many congregations who use the space, as well as the community at large.

THE CHURCH OF ST. PAUL AND ST. ANDREW is located at 263 W. 86th Street, (at Broadway) New York, New York. For more information, please call (212) 362-3179 or visit raisetheroofbenefit.bpt.me. General admission seats are $40 and Senior Citizens/Students/Limited Income Seats are $20. Preferred seats (includes listing in program and post-performance reception) are $100. Premium seats (includes sponsor listing in program and post-performance reception) are $250. For additional information visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2462140.

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