Obba Babatundé to Host BROADWAY UNDER THE STARS at Ford Amphitheatre, 8/16

Tony Award-nominee Obba Babatundé has been set to host Broadway Under The Stars on Saturday, August 16 at 8pm at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre. Produced by Chris Isaacson Presents, this one-night-only concert event will star Tony Award-winner Jennifer Holliday along with (in alphabetical order) Erich Bergen (Jersey Boys, stage and film), Rogelio Douglas, Jr. (In the Heights), Danny Gurwin (Little Women), and Chad Kimball (Memphis). David Galligan will direct, with musical direction by Gerald Sternbach.
Obba Babatundé created the role of C.C. White in Dreamgirls, for which he received a Tony Award nomination. Other stage performances have included Hal Prince's Grind, Billy Flynn in Chicago, as Sammy Davis, Jr. in the new musical Sammy, and the original production of Jelly's Last Jam (playing the title role). On television, Babatundé has appeared on Half & Half, NCIS, Cold Case, Are We There Yet?, Soul Food, Friends, and Love That Girl. His feature films include The Celestine Prophecy, Material Girls, After the Sunset, The Manchurian Candidate, The Notebook, John Q, That Thing You Do, and Philadelphia.

With one of Broadway's greatest voices, Jennifer Holliday's immeasurable range and artistry have long stood in a class by themselves. She was honored with the 1982 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Effie Melody White in Dreamgirls. Through the years, she has appeared on television, in many other stage productions, and as a soloist with Symphony Orchestras all over the country. Holliday has performed for four U.S. Presidents.

Broadway Under the Stars will feature songs from some of the most beloved musicals of our time, including Cabaret, Jersey Boys, Pippin, The Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, LES MISERABLES, and Wicked, along with new favorites from the 2013-14 Broadway season including Aladdin, Rocky, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder.

Broadway Under the Stars is at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Boulevard East in Hollywood for one performance only on Saturday, August 16 at 8pm. Tickets are $40, $55, and $95; for students and children, tickets are $20. VIP packages are available (includes premium seating and a post-show reception with the artists). Purchase by August 9 and save $5! Discount tickets are available at FordTheatres.org or by calling 323-461-3673. To learn about discounts for groups of eight or more, call 323-769-2147.

A portion of the evening's proceeds will benefit The Actors Fund, a national human services organization that helps everyone - performers and those behind the scenes - who works in performing arts and entertainment, serving more than 17,000 people annually. Programs include social services and emergency financial assistance, health care and insurance counseling, housing, and employment and training services. www.actorsfund.org.

For more information about this and other CIP events, including scheduled performers, showtimes, and tickets, visit www.ChrisIsaacsonPresents.com.

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