Castree, Mindlin Added To CHRISTMAS EVE WITH CHRISTMAS EVE 11/29

Ann Harada returns as Avenue Q's "Christmas Eve" and will reuniteswith her on-stage husband, Jordan Gelber, for the one-night-only holiday performance CHRISTMAS EVE WITH CHRISTMAS EVE, a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS at 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 29, at The Midtown Theater (163 W. 46th St.)

Harada and Gelber welcome just-announced additions to the show: Paul Castree (Saturday Night Fever), Michael Mindlin (9 to 5) and Ryan Watkinson (Promises Promises). They join previously announced performers Jason Tam (A Chorus Line) Jose Llana (...Spelling Bee) and Tony nominees John Tartaglia (Avenue Q), Christopher Sieber (Spamalot), Willy Falk (Miss Saigon), Howard McGillin (The Phantom of the Opera), Stephen Bogardus (Falsettos) and Marc Kudisch (9 to 5).

This year's star-studded show follows a sold-out debut performance last year that Seth Rudetsky of Playbill.com called "FANTASTIC!"

Christmas Eve, the beloved, opinionated, heavily-accented therapist from Avenue Q, makes her holiday fantasies come true in this evening of song and comedy. Christmas Eve and her guests both skewer and pay tribute to great romantic duets and iconic moments of Broadway. No lyricist will be spared as Harada reinterprets the Broadway songbook with the help of talented, hilarious and gorgeous leading men. Conceived and written by Gary Adler, Harada and Alan Muraoka, the evening will be directed by Muraoka with choreography by Michael Mindlin and musical direction of Adler. .

Ann Harada originated the role of Christmas Eve in both the Broadway and London productions of the Tony Award-winning musical Avenue Q. Her other Broadway credits include 9 to 5, Les Miserables, Seussical and M. Butterfly. Last season she was featured in the Off-Broadway cast of The Kid. Recent TV work includes Lipstick Jungle (as Victory Ford's mother), Cashmere Mafia, Johnny and the Sprites and The Electric Company.

Alan Muraoka's New York theater credits include Falsettoland for the National Asian American Theatre Company (Vineyard Theatre) and, most recently, Telly Leung - Who Loves Ya' Baby? at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. He is collaborating with songwriters Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich on a musical revue, Screaming Like a Fool, which will have its premiere in January 2011 in NYC.

Tickets:
$75 VIP Table Seating*
$50 Reserved Table Seating
$25 General Admission Table Seating

Tickets can be purchased online at www.broadwaycares.org or by calling 212.840.0770 x268.

(*$75 ticket buyers will also receive a complimentary "Christmas Eve-tini" cocktail and poster autographed by the cast.)

About Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
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.

For more information visit broadwaycares.org

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos

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