Palace Hosts Concert to Benefit Newtown; Linda Eder, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Stephen Schwartz Among Celebrities Participating

Linda Eder, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Stephen Schwartz are among celebrities participating in a benefit for Newtown: “From Broadway with Love: A Benefit Concert For Sandy Hook” 7 pm Jan. 28 at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, just 20 minutes from the town where 26 were killed in a school shooting Dec. 14, 2012. All proceeds and donations will go to United Way of Western Connecticut’s Sandy Hook School Support Fund.

“From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert For Sandy Hook” will feature song, dance, and other appearances from some of the biggest names on Broadway, together with select students from various Newtown choirs and dance groups.

Renowned Broadway performers scheduled to appear include Mitchell (Tony Award winner: Kiss Me Kate, Linda Eder (Jekyll & Hyde), Stephen Schwartz (6-time Tony Award nominee, Wicked, Godspell), Micky Dolenz (Aida, member of The Monkees), Marc Shaiman (Tony Award winner: Hairspray, TV’s "SMASH"), Michael Cerveris (Tony Award winner for Assassins) Christine Ebersole (Tony Award winner: Grey Gardens), Frank Wildhorn (Bonnie & Clyde, Civil War, Jekyll & Hyde), Philip Boykin (The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess), Richard Kind (The Producers, TV’s "Mad About You"), Andrea McArdle (Annie, Les Miserables), Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray movie), Alan Muraoka (Pacific Overtures, TV’s "Sesame Street"), Jan Maxwell (Follies), Robin de Jesus (La Cage Aux Folles and In The Heights), Seth Rudetsky (The Ritz), Julia Murney (Wicked, Lennon), Isabela Moner (Evita), as well as members from various casts of Million Dollar Quartet: Lance Guest, Erik Hayden, Randy Redd, Dan Mills, and Victoria Matlock. More performers will be announced soon and artists are subject to change.

Brett Boles, author of the musical Foreverman, and Broadway producer Van Dean, both from the Newtown area, are the original conceivers of the benefit concert.

The benefit concert will be directed by Michael Unger with certain segments directed by Jeff Calhoun, Stephen Nachamie, David Lee and Daisy Prince and is produced by Van Dean and Kenny Howard of the Broadway Consortium, Jennifer Isaacson, Ken Mahoney, Sarahbeth Grossman, Bethney Ruggiero, Michael A. Alden, Rob Hinderliter and Yvette Kojic. Jeffrey Saver (End Of The Rainbow) is music directing and conducting an orchestra consisting of many top Broadway musicians. Librettist David Thompson (The Scottsboro Boys, Steel Pier, Chicago) is helping the creative team shape the show. Cindi Rush Casting is on board as Casting Consultant. Tom Bussey is Technical Supervisor, John Petrafesa is Sound Designer, David Agress is Lighting Designer and Tom McPhillips is Scenic Designer. Zoya Kachadurian is Production Stage Manager.

Tickets range from $50 to $250. To purchase tickets or make a tax-deductible donation, please visit www.FromBroadwayWithLove.org. Contact Ken Mahoney at 914-419-3762 or sponsorship@frombroadwaywithlove.org for information on how be become a corporate sponsor.

This benefit event is made possible, in part, by the generous donations from many companies and individuals including Bermuda Limousine International, One Dream Sound, the Palace Theater of Waterbury, CT, Atomic Rental, Consulting for a Cause, The Silent Orchestra and more. Please see www.FromBroadwayWithLove.org for a full list.

If you are unable to attend, but wish to contribute, dontions may be sent to:
Sandy Hook School Support Fund
c/o Newtown Savings Bank
39 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470