PHANTOM's Jeff Keller Joins Bridge Studio for the Performing Arts' Sandy Benefit Concert in NJ Tonight

As many families in New Jersey continue to struggle with the aftermath of super storm Sandy, Bridge Studio for the Performing Arts is raising money for Sandy relief. Tonight, December 8th at 7pm, the Bridge Studio for the Performing Arts Benefit Concert will donate 100% of all money raised to those affected by the storm.

The concert will take place at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church (344 Washington Ave., Dumont, NJ) and will feature the celebrated Bridge Studio Community Caroling Choir, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church Choir along with stars from the New York and New Jersey stage including Michelle Dawson (Broadway’s Mama Mia, Show Boat); singer/songwriter Matt DeMarco; Teddy Coluca (Broadway’s The Ritz, NBC-TV’s 30 Rock); Kevin Kern (Broadway’s Les Miserables, The Wedding Singer, Wicked and Paper Mill Playhouse’s Curtains); Elizabeth Synnott (Barefoot in the Park, Terrance McNally’s Master Class, Chichester Psalms at Carnegie Hall); Elizabeth Barone; guitarist Matt Pidi; Georell & Luigi Magno; Victoria Casella & Clifton Lewis; and more to be announced.

Jeff Keller is one of the original cast members of The Phantom of the Opera and the first American to play The Phantom on Broadway. Keller has also starred on Broadway in Candide; Fiddler On The Roof with Zero Mostel; The Roast; The 1940’s Radio Hour, for which he received a Drama Desk nomination; Sunday In The Park With George, in which he played George in the West Coast premiere of the show and won the San Francisco Theater Critics Circle; On The Twentieth Century; One Night Stand; and Alan Jay Lerner’s Dance A Little Closer. Jeff took a leave from Phantom to create the character of Marley’s Ghost in Alan Menken’s musical version of A Christmas Carol. Off Broadway, he starred in Charlotte Sweet and Personals. He has appeared in concert with Leonard Bernstein and has performed in numerous Repertory Theaters around the country. Jeff left Phantom to devote full time to the Dance Art Creative Center, the performing and visual art school founded by he and his wife. Jeff finds the time to sing with symphony orchestras around the country. He has performed with Broadway star Judy Kaye and the Princeton Symphony, Arkansas Symphony, and Albany Symphony. Jeff was recently inducted into the Freehold (NJ) High School Hall Of Fame, an honor he shares with Bruce Springsteen.

Bridge Studio for the Performing Arts, located in Dumont, New Jersey, strives to be the bridge to the performing outlet of the world, New York City. Its goal is to create an artistic environment that welcomes all to express their talents freely. Bridge Studio began with the belief that all of its students, regardless of age or level, fuse their creative energies with their everyday lives. The studio caters to all levels of performers from professional performer, up and coming stars of stage and screen and those who want to learn the behind-the-scenes action. Bridge Studio was founded by Elizabeth N. Synnott and Ken Melamed.

BRIDGE STUDIO FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS BENEFIT HOLIDAY CONCERT is set for Saturday, December 8, 2012, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church is located at 344 Washington Ave., Dumont, NJ.

Tickets are $10 (larger donations are graciously accepted) and 100% of the proceeds will be go to the victims of Sandy. For reservations, email bridgestudioforperformingarts@gmail.com or call 201-394-9697. For more information, visit Bridgestudiofortheperformingarts.com.