Barbara Cook and Audra McDonald to Perform One Night Only Concert to Benefit 'America Votes' 10/19

Tony Award winners Barbara Cook and Audra McDonald will star in a one night only concert event, Audra McDonald & Barbara Cook: Broadway Voices For Change, to benefit America Votes on Sunday, October 19, at 8pm at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street).  With musical direction by Ted Sperling and Lee Musiker, Audra McDonald & Barbara Cook: Broadway Voices For Change is produced by David Binder and Brian Savelson.

AMERICA VOTES is the largest grassroots voter mobilization effort in the country today, a coalition of over 40 of the most powerful national groups working together to increase progressive voter registration and turnout.  Some, like the labor unions, Sierra Club, and NAACP have been organizing since the turn of the 20th century.  Newer organizations like VoteVets and the League of Young Voters represent growing and important progressive constituencies.  This historic partnership represents a combined membership of over 40 million Americans representing a broad economic and social justice agenda.  They fight for good jobs, good healthcare, a clean environment, civil rights, and a good education.  They register voters in under-represented communities of color, women, young people, and LGBT Americans.  This is a coalition of political and organizing professionals.

Barbara Cook celebrated her 80th birthday last fall with three sold out concerts with the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall.  Her other recent New York appearances include her latest engagement at the famed Café Carlyle, her sixth solo concert at Carnegie Hall, where she made her legendary solo concert debut over 30 years ago, and her historic solo concert debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera House (with special guest Audra McDonald), where she became the first female solo pop singer to be presented in concert by the MET.   Ms.Cook won a NY Drama Critics Circle Award and was nominated for a Drama Desk award for her concert Barbara Cook's Broadway and was nominated for Tony and Drama Desk Awards for her previous concert, Mostly Sondheim.   Her many Broadway credits include the creation of three classic roles in the American musical theatre: Cunegonde in Leonard Bernstein's Candide, Marian the Librarian in Meredith Willson's The Music Man (Tony Award) and Amalia in Bock and Harnick's She Loves Me (Drama Desk Award).  Ms Cook's recent recordings include the DRG releases Barbara Cook Sings Mostly Sondheim, Barbara Cook's Broadway, the Grammy-nominated Count Your Blessings,  Barbara Cook Live At the Met, Tribute and No One Is Alone.  Her latest, Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder, will be released by DRG Records next month.

Audra McDonald currently stars in ABC's "Private Practice" as Dr. Naomi Bennett, now in its second season.  As a singer and actress Ms. McDonald has starred on Broadway, film, television and concert stages around the world.  She earned three Tony Awards before turning 30 for Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, and a fourth in 2004 for A Raisin in the Sun.  Audra has also appeared on Broadway in 110 In The Shade (Tony nomination), Lincoln Center's Henry IV and Marie Christine (Tony nomination). She most recently played Jenny in L.A. Opera's production of Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny. Audra's work in television and film includes her Emmy-nominated performances in ABC's production of "A Raisin in the Sun" and HBO's Mike Nichols production of "Wit," and as Grace Farrell in the Disney TV production of "Annie." An exclusive recording artist for Nonesuch, her four solo albums comprising both popular standards and contemporary music theater songs have won a wide audience.

Tickets for Audra McDonald & Barbara Cook: Broadway Voices For Change range from $50 to $99 (not including standard fees) and are available through Telecharge.com (212-239-6200 or 800-432-7250) beginning at 10am, on Friday, October 3.  Select premium and aisle seating is available.

Contributions or gifts to America Votes are not deductible for income tax purposes.
      
For more information on America Votes visit: www.americavotes.org

Photo Credit Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.