Photo Coverage: After the Storm Benefit

Musical theater students and alumni from NYU's CAP 21 joined Academy Award-winner James Lecesne, Randy Redd, Alex De Castro (from Broadway's The Lion King) and special guests Stephen Flaherty, Bryan Batt, Gerry McIntyre, singer-songwriter Duncan Sheik and cast members from the new hit Broadway musical Spring Awakening, to present "Coming Together," an evening of song to benefit After the Storm at the Renee Weiler Concert Hall at Greenwich House Music School (46 Barrow Street) on Monday, December 11th at 8PM.

After the Storm is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping youth, young adults and local youth organizations that have been affected by environmental and economic disaster in America. Starting in New Orleans and expanding nationwide, After the Storm is a grass-roots campaign, promoting musical theater events to raise and distribute money, increase awareness and revitalize the spirit of existing relief organizations. 
 
After the Storm's first project will begin in January 2007, when its creators arrive in New Orleans to cast and rehearse a production of Lynn Ahrens' and Stephen Flaherty's award-winning musical Once On This Island with local youth, local musicians, local artists and a large community choir. Working with the St. Mark's Community Center, After the Storm will offer a series of free performances and a gala benefit evening to raise necessary funding for the community. This project will be documented by award-winning filmmaker Hilla Medalia and then used as a springboard for a nationwide program, encouraging high school drama clubs and community theaters to raise funds to support New Orleans youth.

Inspired by the efforts of After The Storm, NYU students were the first to come forward to create an event to raise necessary funds.  "Coming Together" is the first in what After the Storm hopes will be a nationwide effort to revitalize local community groups through the use of theater and film.

Tax-deductible donations can be sent to:

After the Storm
332 Bleeker Street #431
New York, NY 10014

For more information, please visit www.afterthestormfoundation.org or www.cap21.org.

Photos by Andrew Giammarco

Bryan Batt

Danny Schmittler waits to sing Tom Kitt's "Don't Fail Me Now"

Stephen Flaherty, Tom Viola (BC/EFA) and Gerry McIntyre

Academy Award-winner James Lecesne (Producer) introduces filmmaker Hilla Medalia

Michael Cunningham

Spring Awakening'sLauren Pritchard

Lauren Pritchard

Duncan Sheik

Ben Kalb, Duncan Sheik and Lauren Pritchard

 
Stephen Flaherty and Jess Brandes

James Lecesne

Alex DeCastro and the company

The company

James Lecesne

Sari Poll (CAP 21 graduate) interviewed backstage

Alex DeCastro interviewed backstage