On November 29th, 2004, to commemorate World AIDS Day, one of this year's most exciting theatrical events will take place: a star-studded concert presentation of Stephen Schwartz's acclaimed musical, "PIPPIN." Presented by Jamie McGonnigal, Kate Shindle and The Storm Theatre, the concert will take place at The Manhattan Center's Grand Ballroom at 311 West 34th Street (at 34th and 8th Avenue) at 7PM.
Rosie O'Donnell will open the concert as the first of five Leading Players. Ben Vereen, who won a Tony Award for the role in the original Broadway production, will also be appearing. Other Leading Players include Darius de Haas (Marie Christine), Billy Porter (Grease) and Kate Shindle (Cabaret, Miss America 1998).
Michael Arden, from the Tony-Award winning ensemble of "Big River" will play Pippin, with Laura Benanti (Tony-Award Nominee - Swing, Into The Woods and Nine) as love interest, Catherine. Also joining the cast as Theo, is "Caroline, or Change's" Harrison Chad and Cameron Mathison of daytime's "All My Children" will play the role of Pippin's step-brother, Lewis. Terrence Mann, (Beast in Disney's Beauty & The Beast) will play Charlemagne and in the role of Berthe (originated by The Beverly Hillbillie's Irene Ryan), will be actor and playwright, Charles Busch. Julia Murney, from the concerts of "Children of Eden" and "Funny Girl," will play Fastrada. Mark Hartman (Avenue Q, Children of Eden) will conduct. Andy Blankenbuehler (Lippa's A Little Princess) will be choreographing and the 130-member cast will be under the direction of Gabriel Barre (Off Broadway's The Wild Party).
Tickets range from $50 to $1000. Some prices include invites to the VIP After-Party with the company of "Pippin." All seats available through Smarttix by calling 212-868-4444 or at www.smarttix.com. Further information including donation options are available through www.PippinConcert.org.
The proceeds will be benefiting The National AIDS Fund, which supports nearly 400 community based organizations nationally, doing battle against HIV/AIDS. The National AIDS Fund also promotes educational efforts to effectively stop the spread of the virus. This is especially important when newly released data states that in 2003, there were 5 million new HIV infections and an unprecedented 3 million deaths from AIDS.
The co-benefactor and co-presenter of the event is The Storm Theatre. Founded in 1997 as a non-profit theatre company, The Storm has been producing new and classic works that offer audiences compelling documentation of what it means to be human. While struggling after the effects of 9/11, they are just beginning to re-emerge as one of New York's most exciting success stories.