Lopez, Molina, Etc. Set for Where's Darfur? Benefit, 4/23

On April 23rd, at the Knitting Factory (74 Leonard St. at Church St.), an exciting mix of young writers, top Broadway talent and world musicians are uniting for a night of song, rhythm and rhyme to raise awareness and funds for Darfur.  

"Where's Darfur?," a special one-night benefit concert and silent auction, organized by musical theatre artists, Lauren Lebowitz, Julie Tindell, and Daniel Frederick Levin, will be headlined by Bobby Lopez, co-writer of Avenue Q, and his wife, Kristen Lopez-Anderson, and will include performances by Kevin Smith Kirkwood (Spelling Bee), Katie Tomlinson (Pirate Queen), Lisa Howard (Spelling Bee), Rashad Naylor (Hairspray), Lauren Molina (Sweeney Todd), Michael Deleget, Janice Lowe, Matt Bailey, Rosanne Colosi, Jaclyn Huberman, Clare Burson, Gary Fritz, Fatima, Women of the Calabash Drumming Ensemble, and many more.  City Councilman David Yassky will outline what local strategies are underway to pressure the Sudanese government into ending their attacks. 

"Three years into the Darfuri genocide, little progress has been made.  The U.N. has condemned the attacks by government-backed militias on villagers in western Sudan with strong words, but has failed to implement a strategy to end the violence.  Funds raised from 'Where's Darfur?' will benefit 'Never Again International' and its peace building campaign in Darfur, as well as humanitarian relief work in the region," state press materials.

Doors open at 7:30pm, and the show starts at 8.  The cost of the show is: $25, $50, $75 or $100.  Tickets to the event may be purchased at: www.rocktosavedarfur.org/wheresdarfurevent.html.

Photo of Lauren Molina by Ben Strothmann