Kate Shindle & More Set for BROADWAY SINGS FOR NEWTOWN Tonight

The 2013 Newtown Arts Festival announces a special benefit concert, "Broadway Sings for Newtown," to be held as part of the festival's eight days of cultural programming tonight, September 19 at Walnut Hill Community Church, 156 Walnut Hill Road, in Bethel at 7 p.m. All tickets are $35 general admission and are available at NewtownArtsFestival.com.

A cast of Broadway stars will take to the stage and perform two acts of music with such favorites as Ring Them Bells, You'll Never Walk Alone, and You Raise Me Up, among others. J. Mark McVey (Les Miserables, Tommy, Chess, Show Boat, Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Actor); Jeri Sager (CATS, Fiddler on the Roof, Les Miserables, Evita); Danny Zolli (Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, Candide, Sweeney Todd); Gary Mauer (Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Show Boat, Pirates of Penzance); Elizabeth Southard (Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Show Boat); and Kate Shindle (Miss America 1998, Legally Blonde, Jekyll & Hyde, Cabaret). Local youth ensembles will round out the cast and will be announced in coming weeks.

Produced by Pati Buehler of PB Entertainment, the concert staff includes J.P. Schutz, host/MC; Jeremy Roberts, music director and pianist, Abe Saenz on bass and Roger Cohen on drums. Renee Chambers choreographs. Walnut Hill Community Church has donated the venue and technical staff. Proceeds go to the Healing Arts Foundation, an arts center for the Newtown community. To make a donation visit Healingnewtown.org.

For more information, or to purchase tickets to "Broadway Sings for Newtown," please visit NewtownArtsFestival.com.

The 2013 Newtown Arts Festival features a week of cultural programming leading up to the outdoor event to be held on Saturday and Sunday, September 21-22 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at Trades Lane, Fairfield Hills.

With two-full days of programming in the Music Tent, Dance Pavilion, Lecture Hall and Fiber Arts Tent, the festival will also feature over 80 artists in the Artists' Market offering a variety of items including painting, jewelry, woodwork, glasswork, sculpture, and more.

In addition to the Broadway Sings for Newtown concert, events leading up to the outdoor festival include a Children's Art Party at NYA Sports & Fitness on Sunday, September 15 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.; a reading of the one act play "O Heavy Lightness" by Newtown resident Jan Neuberger at the Alexandria Room in Edmond Town Hall on Monday, September 16 at 7 p.m.; a screening of the new film, "Youth," by Newtown High School student Max Galassi at Newtown Congregational Church on Tuesday, September 17 at 7 p.m.; a cello and violin recital by the Elaris Duo on Wednesday, September 18 at the Newtown Meeting House at 7 p.m.; and, the Rooster Ball, a dinner dance, on Friday, September 20 under the main tent at Fairfield Hills.

For more information, please visit http://newtownartsfestival.com.