Active Theater Co and BC/EFA Host AMAZING SEX Benefit, 2/21

Songwriters Barry Harman and Keith Herrmann present Amazing Sex, their all-new musical for a special benefit fund-raiser and cocktail reception evening for The Active Theater Company and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Amazing Sex will star Matt Castle, Frank Galgano, Danette Holden, Laiona Mitchell and Caesar Samoya - with special guests to be announced. Current cast members from Harman and Herrmann's Romance/Romance Stephanie Youell Binetti, Nick Dalton, Abby Mueller and Nathaniel Shaw will also appear, performing numbers from Romance/Romance. 

Mr. Harman's most recent solo venture is the musical UNDER FIRE, for which he wrote the book and lyrics and directed for the 2009 New York Musicals Festival (NYMF), and was won the top Theater for the American Musical Prize. The show is currently being optioned for Broadway. In addition, the new original musical revue, AMAZING SEX, a collaboration from both Harman and Herrmann is set to debut in winter of 2010. Mr. Harman is also currently at work on two new musicals: OUR HERO! (about aviator Charles Lindbergh) with a score by Mr. Herrmann, and HEAVEN CAN WAIT (based on the famous play and film).

Mr. Herrmann was previously represented as composer, vocal arranger and musical supervisor of ONWARD VICTORIA, that ran both on and Off-Broadway. A longtime Broadway "resident", he was the musical conductor of CATS, and performed on its Grammy Award-winning cast album as pianist and synthesist. Other credits include his work as conductor of WHOOPEE!, conductor and keyboardist of THE MAGIC SHOW, and musical supervisor of, yes, CENSORED SCENES FROM KING KONG. In addition to his Broadway compositions, Mr. Herrmann has written numerous jingles, television scores and original musical material for a variety of performers. He scored the ABC-TV After School Special, TAKING A STAND, which resulted in an Emmy Award for its creators. He is also represented on the Tri-Star animated holiday video "Buster and Chauncey's Silent Night" with Mr. Harman.

THE ACTIVE THEATER COMPANY - (Nathaniel Shaw/Artistic Director; Joseph Benesh/General Manager) - The Active Theater produces entertaining work that moves us to think, to laugh, to cry, to question, moves us to action. We will use Active's momentum to nurture and advance the careers of emerging artists in New York City. More information at www.theactivetheater.com.

The benefit presentation of Amazing Sex will take place at Shetler Studios at 244 W. 54th Street, 12th Floor - Penthouse between Broadaway and 8th Avenue on Sunday, February 21st. Tickets are $60, with an AEA discount of $50. A cocktail reception will be held from 7:00-8:00PM, and the performance will go from 8:00PM-9:30PM. Tickets now available by visiting www.TheActiveTheater.com.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 BC/EFA has raised over $175 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.

BC/EFA is the major supporter of seven programs at The Actors' Fund - including The AIDS Initiative, The Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative, The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic, The Dancers' Resource and three supportive housing residences. BC/EFA also awards annual grants to over 400 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide. More information available at www.bcefa.org.