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Photo Coverage: Pippin World AIDS Day Benefit Concert
By: Linda Lenzi Nov. 30, 2004
Rosie O'Donnell opened the concert as the first of five Leading Players. Ben Vereen, who won a Tony Award for the role in the original Broadway production, closed out the show as the final Leading Player. The other Players included Darius de Haas (Marie Christine, last year's Children of Eden Concert), Billy Porter (Grease, and the upcoming Ghetto Superstar at The Public Theatre) and Kate Shindle (Cabaret, Jekyll & Hyde, Miss America 1998).
Michael Arden, from the Tony-Award winning ensemble of Big River and the star of the Off-Broadway hit, BARE, portrayed the title role, with Laura Benanti (Tony-Award Nominee from the casts of Swing, Into The Woods and Nine) as Pippin's love interest, Catherine. Also in the cast as young Theo, is Caroline, or Change's Harrison Chad and Cameron Mathison of daytime's All My Children played the role of Pippin's half-witted step-brother, Lewis. Terrence Mann, who originated the role of The Beast in Disney's Beauty & The Beast played Charlemagne and in the role of Berthe (originated by The Beverly Hillbillies' Granny, Irene Ryan), was actor and playwright, Charles Busch. Julia Murney, well known from the benefit concerts of Children of Eden, Chess and Funny Girl played the role of Fastrada. Included in the ensemble was Sarah Chase, Kristoffer Cusick, Adam Fleming, Sriram Ganesan, Julie Garnye, Jordan Gelber, Kearran Giovanni, Jenna Leigh Green, Colin Hanlon, Natalie Joy Johnson, Michael Longoria, Jennifer Malenke, Kate Pazakis, Erin Quill, Robb Sapp, Rebecca Soler, Aaron Staton, Pearl Sun, Marty Thomas, Caitlin van Zandt, and Josh Young.
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