Bean, de Haas, Espinosa, Shindle & More Star In 2nd Annual 'Broadway In South Africa' Benefit Concert 10/5

Fresh from the January 2009 inaugural working-visit to South Africa, the new not-for-profit Broadway in South Africa announces its Second Annual Benefit Concert. This star-studded evening will feature a guest performance by South African hit recording artist and producer Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse. Like the first, this concert will also feature world-premiere songs created by Broadway and New York composers, like Jeff Bowen, performed by Broadway stars like Shoshana Bean and Eden Espinosa. Through the support of honorary chairs and board members, like award-winning singer-songwriter-actress Deborah Cox, this benefit concert will raise awareness of and celebrate the work Broadway in South Africa does to provide artistic and educational opportunities for underprivileged youth. The concert will take place on Monday, October 5, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. at Peter Norton Symphony Space, located at 2537 Broadway at 95th Street. VIP guests will enjoy pre- and post-concert events.

Each song premiered at the concert will be based on stories written by BSA students who participated in the four-day arts intensive, held in January at JL Zwane Centre & Church in Gugulethu Township, Cape Town. Approximately 60 students, ages seven to 14, from five local townships participated. The intensive included acting, dance, music and playwrighting workshops.

Thus far, BSA has commissioned composers Deborah Abramson, Scott Alan, Jeff Bowen, Joe Iconis, Daniel Larsen, Selloane Nkhela, Ryan Scott Oliver and Katie Thompson to create the new works.

The songs will be performed by such Broadway artists as Shoshana Bean (Wicked), Sean Bradford (The Lion King), Lili Cooper (Spring Awakening), Darius de Haas (Kiss of the Spiderwoman), Eden Espinosa (Wicked), Frankie James Grande (Mamma Mia), Adam Kantor (Rent), Tracy McDowell (Rent), Selloane Nkhela (The Lion King), Courtney Reed (In The Heights), Kate Shindle (Legally Blonde) and Lisa Nicole Wilkerson (The Lion King).

In addition to the world-premieres and Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse's sure-to-be thrilling performance, the benefit concert will feature other special guest performances. A new work of authentic traditional South African flare will be created by Bongi Duma and performed by his fellow South African cast mates from The Lion King.

There will also be a concert dance piece choreographed by Charles O. Anderson, artistic director and founder of Dance Theater X.

The evening's director is Jen Bender (The Lion King), and Jesse Vargas (Glory Days) is musical director.

The event chair for the 2009 BSA Second Annual Benefit Concert is Deann Sarah Brady, Director of Corporate and Government Relations for Seeds of Peace. The Host Committee includes Larry Adelman, Sarah Lesser Avins, D. Edwin Dill, Tammy Sun, Peter Moore and Erin Shannon.

It is through fundraising efforts like this, where Broadway's finest and other professionals come together and donate their time and talents to furthering the positive impact of arts education, that BSA is able to fund its projects, like its inaugural trip to South Africa in January 2009. In addition to the four-day intensive, BSA conducted mini workshops at schools, orphanages and child crisis centers in townships around Johannesburg and Durban. Many of the sites visited are funded by Keep A Child Alive (KACA), a charitable organization co-founded by singer-songwriter-actress Alicia Keys, that provides medication for children and their families living with HIV/AIDS, and creates awareness about the issue. A portion of the proceeds from BSA's fundraising efforts through benefit concerts in South Africa went directly to KACA.

In conjunction with South African producers Pieter Toerien and Hazel Feldman, BSA produced and performed in live benefit concerts in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban with local South African artists, like Shaun V, recording artist and Roger in Rent in South Africa, and Talia Kodesh, Belle in Beauty and the Beast in South Africa. Cape Town local and Scar in The Lion King South Africa, Mark Rayment served as host.

For the 2009 BSA Second Annual Benefit Concert, VIP ticket holders will have an opportunity to mingle with the performers at a 6 p.m. pre-show reception and a post-show party.

Individual ticket prices range from $20 to $100 and are available by calling Symphony Space at 212.864.5400 or visiting www.symphonyspace.org. VIP sponsor packages range in price from $5,000 to $25,000, and are available by contacting Sean Bradford, BSA Co-Founder and Executive Director, at artforanewworld@gmail.com or 917.370.6915, or by visiting www.broadwayinsouthafrica.com.

All proceeds from this concert will go to Broadway in South Africa. Make non-concert donations at www.fracturedatlas.org/donate/1818.

For more information, visit www.broadwayinsouthafrica.com.

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