Michele, Buonopane, Astin, Etc. Set for August 30 Benefit

Young theater stars will come together for Shifting Ground Production's second season opening performance, which will take place at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital on August 30th at 1 PM in their Winter Garden theatre.

Scheduled to appear are: Leah Michele (Spring Awakening), Skylar Astin (Spring Awakening), Todd Buonopone (Spelling Bee), Julie Kleiner ("Camp", Big), Dana Steingold (Spelling Bee) and Ato Blankson-Wood. The show will be directed by the company's resident director Timothy Michael Drucker with script supervision by Tara Smith (the upcoming Piece at NAMT) and music direction by Robbie Eicher.

Previous Shifitng Ground performers have included Erich Bergen (White Christmas, the upcoming Warriors), Sara Kramer (Mamma Mia!), Caitlin Van Zandt ("Guiding Light","The Sopranos"), Randy Blair ("Strangers with Candy"), Adrienne Couvillion (Goodspeed's Lil' Abner), Blair Late (the pop group B3), Liana Stampur ("Broadway Stands Up for Freedom") and Peter Porte (Mamma Mia!).

Shifting Ground Productions is a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to providing a unique, live theatrical experience for children suffering with illness at pediatric facilities. It was founded in the summer of 2005 by Julie Kleiner, Dana Steingold and Liana Stampur, all of whom attended the famed theatre camp Stagedoor Manor, which was the basis for the film "Camp" and the documentary "Stagedoor".

"The shows we design usually are musicals and are all highly interactive," says Julie Kleiner, president and co-founder of Shifting Ground Productions. "It is quite extraordinary to see the reactions of the kids, especially when they want to get up and perform beside us."

One of the premier children's hospitals, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian is affiliated with Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. It is the sole New York City hospital dedicated to the care of children and health services provider. Shifting Ground Productions has been their theatre company in residence since the fall of 2005.

For more information on Shifting Ground Productions, visit www.shifting-ground.org.