Broadway Community to Honor Kyle Jean-Baptiste at 54 Below This Fall

Members of the Broadway community will gather in October to honor the late Kyle Jean-Baptiste, the up-and-coming star who made history in LES MISERABLES this summer, following his recent untimely death at 21.

Baptiste's friend and fellow Baldwin-Wallace college alum, Corey Mach, is organizing the event, which will feature Baptiste's fellow LES MIZ cast members.

HAMILTON composer Lin-Manuel Miranda first tweeted the news out yesterday: "Another is to let you know that Kyle's friend Cory is organizing a @54Below concert to help w funeral costs. I'll tweet link when I have it."

Jennifer Ashley Tepper, 54 Below's Director of Programming, confirmed the concert, following up with: "This is coming soon. We will be celebrating the life of Kyle Jean-Baptiste at 54 and raising $ for funeral costs"

BroadwayWorld will keep you updated as details of the event are finalized.

LES MISERABLES' Broadway home, the Imperial Theatre, the Richard Rodgers Theatre, as well as Cleveland's Playhouse Square dimmed their marquees in honor of Baptiste earlier this week. The developments come after news of Kyle's death spread quickly across the Internet, with many members of the Broadway community paying tribute to this history-making performer. "Kyle Jean-Baptiste" became a trending topic on Twitter around the world, and many of Jean-Baptiste's fans and colleagues began using the Twitter hashtag #Dim4Kyle in an effort to encourage the Broadway League to dim theater lights in his honor.

Said producer Cameron Mackintosh, "The tragic loss of Kyle to our company, just as he was on the threshold of a brilliant career, is a numbing reminder of how precious life is. His spirit was infinite and his voice from God - we are all so sad not to have spent more time with him, for he truly was a rare talent and a special person. Our loss is heaven's gain and our prayers are with his family and friends."

"We mourn the sudden and tragic loss of Kyle Jean-Baptiste, an immensely talented actor who followed his dreams that led to playing the lead role of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables on Broadway. He was a rising star who graced our stage for too short a time, but his historic achievements and what he represents for the future will be remembered and honored when the Imperial Theatre dims its lights on Tuesday evening following the show," said Charlotte St. Martin, President of the Broadway League. "Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans."

A native of Brooklyn and a graduate of the Fiorello LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts, Kyle Jean-Baptiste attended Baldwin Wallace University in Ohio where he starred in numerous productions. The day after his graduation, he was hired to join the ensemble of Les Miserables and understudy the role of Jean Valjean, joining the production on June 23rd. Kyle was scheduled to depart Les Miserables on September 6th to join the new Broadway production of THE COLOR PURPLE.

The Kyle Jean-Baptiste '15 Music Theatre Scholarship has been established at his alma mater, Baldwin Wallace University, to carry forward Kyle's legacy and benefit music theatre students. To make a gift in memory of Kyle, please make your check payable to Baldwin Wallace University, note "Kyle Jean-Baptiste MT Scholarship" on the memo line and send to Baldwin Wallace University, c/o Advancement Services, 275 Eastland Road, Berea, Ohio 44017. To make an electronic gift, go to www.b-wcommunity.net/give, in the designation dropdown, select Kyle Jean-Baptiste, and follow the prompts. For more information, call 440-826-2750.

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