Free Lawn Seats Available for Idina Menzel Concert at RiverEdge Park, 7/19

Broadway powerhouse and Glee favorite Idina Menzel - the Tony Award-winning Elphaba from Wicked - is gracing the RiverEdge Park stage during its inaugural season celebration.

This stage, screen and vocal superstar is coming for one night only, Friday, July 19 at 8 p.m. to Illinois' hottest new outdoor venue, located in downtown Aurora.

Menzel's Chicago-area stop is part of her smash hit tour which is selling out concert venues from Arizona to Melbourne, Australia.

As part of the inaugural season celebration, complimentary general admission lawn seats have been made available by The Dunham Fund, who is generously underwriting the concert and is the sponsor of the Park's concert pavilion.

"I can't begin to tell you how excited we are to have Idina not just performing at RiverEdge Park, but performing as part of our very first season," explains Tim Rater, President & CEO of the Aurora Civic Center Authority that operates RiverEdge. "She truly is one of the most versatile and talented artists of our time. This is going to be an amazing evening."

Blocks of free tickets for lawn seats are currently being allocated to local community groups and non-profits throughout Aurora and Chicago's western suburbs. A limited number of complimentary lawn tickets will also be distributed first-come, first-serve, in person starting at Noon, Friday, June 14 at the RiverEdge box office, 360 North Broadway, and at the Paramount box office, 23 East Galena Blvd in Aurora. These tickets are available in person or by calling the box office. There is a limit of 4 complimentary tickets per household for the concert.

A limited number of intimate seats that cup the stage are also on sale for the July 19 performance, for those who want to experience this amazing evening up close. Reserved seats are $75. General admission bench seats are $60. Tickets go on sale June 14 at RiverEdgeAurora.com, via phone at 630.896.6666, and at the RiverEdge box office on any day this summer that RiverEdge is hosting a concert or event, beginning at 10 a.m.

Aurora's new RiverEdge Park is located at 360 North Broadway, steps away from downtown Aurora, directly across from the Metra station, on the east bank of the beautiful Fox River.

The Dunham Fund is the largest private foundation in the Aurora, Illinois area. The mission of the Dunham Fund is to honor the legacy of John C. Dunham. In that spirit, the Fund supports organizations that work to make the world a safer and more comfortable place for mankind to live and prosper, giving special consideration to Aurora -area organizations engaged in providing education and to organizations engaged in assisting individuals to attain heights they may not have attained without the benefit of such assistance.

"This is a wonderful opportunity," continued Rater. "How often do you see something like this taking place. It's all because of the efforts of Idina and the members of The Dunham Fund Board."

"It is with pleasure that The Dunham Fund is partnering with Idina Menzel to provide these complimentary tickets to those who may not otherwise have the opportunity to enjoy the gift that is Idina's voice. We appreciate her working with us to make this night come true," said Wendy Hirsch, Dunham Fund Board Member.

Tony-Award Winning Broadway powerhouse Idina Menzel has a diverse career on the stage, in film and television, and in music. Menzel recently culminated a highly successful international orchestra tour, where she demonstrated why she is one of the great performers of her time. Dubbed "The Streisand of her generation," in March 2011 Menzel released a CD and DVD entitled "Idina Menzel Live: Barefoot at the Symphony," a live concert with an orchestra led by legendary composer/conductor Marvin Hamlisch.

Garnering critical acclaim, Menzel reached superstardom on Broadway with her Tony Award-winning performance as Elphaba, in the blockbuster Wicked and in her Tony-nominated role as Maureen in the revolutionary RENT. This season, Menzel reprised her role on FOX's smash hit Glee, as Shelby Corcoran, Rachel's biological mother. A skillful songwriter, Menzel also performs and records her own music.

On Broadway, Menzel also appeared as Sheila in the Encores! production of Hair and starred as Amneris in Aida. In London's West End, she premiered Wicked, and received the Theatregoers Choice Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Menzel returns to Broadway to lead If/Then, a new original musical, in early 2014.

Menzel's film credits include Disney's Enchanted appearing opposite Susan Sarandon, Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams; RENT, reprising her role as Maureen; and co-starring in Robert Towne'sAsk the Dust, opposite Salma Hayek and Colin Farrell. She will next be heard on the big screen in Disney's animated feature Frozen, set to release in November 2013.

Philanthropy is important to Menzel who created the A BroaderWay Foundation in 2010 with her husband Taye Diggs. This organization is dedicated to offering girls from underserved communities an outlet for self-expression and creativity through arts-centered programs. The emphasis is on building self-esteem, developing leadership qualities and striving for personal and social achievement.

For more information on Idina Menzel visit idinamenzel.com and for A BroaderWay, visit abroaderway.com.

Concerts take place rain or shine, unless conditions endanger the safety of artists and the public. Concertgoers may call the RiverEdge Park WeatherLine at 630-723-2478 to check the status of a concert if inclement weather is pending.

For tickets and information, visit RiverEdgeAurora.com or call the RiverEdge box office, 630.896.6666.