Broadway Stars Stage Benefit for PS 166; Child Stars Commit to Raise Funds and Inspire Children

Broadway cast members from Billy Elliot, South Pacific, Frog and Toad and Bye Bye Birdie will perform at a benefit for the children of PS 166 on Monday, February 8th, at 7pm in the school's auditorium. Appearances by Bill Irwin (Mr. Noodle), Karen Ziemba, and additional surprises are also scheduled. Many of the numbers in "Broadway Sings" will feature children working on Broadway who will stay for a question and answer session with the audience after the show. The goal is to inspire PS 166 students to consider theater arts as a career path. But "Broadway Sings" is primarily a
benefit for the public elementary school on West 89th Street which serves some 600 children.

Like other public schools in New York City, PS 166 has been hit hard by budget cuts. Funds raised by "Broadway Sings" ticket sales will help compensate for recent state and NYC Department of Education cuts that have taken a toll on the school's theater arts, music and enrichment programs.

"We are so fortunate to have such an outpouring of support from the Broadway community, to raise awareness about the importance of theater arts and to raise funds for arts programs that are constantly being cut," says Jeff Martin, Producer and Owner - with John Kroner - of MK Entertainment. Martin and Kroner, who have been producers in the entertainment world for over 20 years, and have produced events at the White House during the Clinton years, are both parents at PS 166 and assembled the talent for "Broadway Sings."

"We put it out there and they responded, even on their day off," says Martin who planned the benefit on a Monday, when Broadway performers typically rest.

PS 166, otherwise known as the Richard Rodgers School of Arts and Technology, is dedicated to supporting and promoting theater arts in the school, particularly works by Richard Rodgers who attended the school and is its namesake. PS 166 children in the After School program are currently producing their own version of "Annie." Last year's production of "Guys and Dolls" received rave reviews from cast members of the actual Broadway show who came to watch.

"PS 166's theater arts program provides a wonderful creative outlet for hundreds of children who discover and develop their singing, acting and dancing abilities," says Martin. "We'd like to sell out the house so we can preserve this vital program now and in the future," he says.

Tickets for "Broadway Sings at PS 166" may be purchased online at http://www.ps166.org/www/03M166/site/hosting/Broadway.html. Prices are very reasonable at $10 for children, $20 for adults, and $50 for the front three center rows - far less than what one would normally pay for a Broadway show.