Two Gay Double Amputees Join Forces for Benefit Concert

After a sold-out inaugural year, David Connolly and Taylor Long are back to present BOTH 2.0, an annual cabaret fundraiser in support of the War Amps CHAMP (Child Amputee) Program. The benefit concert will take place on Sunday, September 30, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. at the intimate Glenn Gould Studio located in the Canadian Broadcasting Centre building, 250 Front St. W, Toronto, ON.

BOTH 2.0 shares Connolly and Long's personal stories of growing up in Nova Scotia, discovering their love for musical theatre, and navigating the ups and downs of living with double amputation - these lighthearted stories are complemented by performances of songs in the musical theatre and jazz repertoire. Anthony Bastianon is the Music Director and accompanist for the evening.

Connolly and Long are connected by more than their love of musical theatre - they both wear two prosthetics below-the-knee. The War Amps of Canada has played an important role in their lives, providing support and funding for their extremely expensive artificial limbs. BOTH 2.0 will raise money in support of this incredible organization and fuel the discussion about inclusion and diversity in the arts.

Nova Scotia native and longtime CHAMP Ambassador David Connolly made his Broadway debut at age 19 in the revival of Shenandoah and went on to perform in theatres across Canada including The Stratford Festival. Now a director and choreographer for stage and screen, his musical credits include Mamma Mia!, Miss Saigon and Crazy for You, artists such as Katy Perry, kd lang and Sarah Brightman and several CBC television series including Andrew Lloyd Webber's How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, The Doodlebops and The Moblees.

Taylor Long was born and raised in Halifax before moving to Toronto where he began writing as Senior Editor for BroadwayWorld.com Toronto. Long studied classical voice at Dalhousie University and has appeared in various regional musical theatre and opera productions including The Sound of Music, The Last Five Years, How to Succeed in Business and Les Mise?rables. He spent over 10 years as a counsellor with The War Amps of Canada, for which he was presented with a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013. Long currently works for the Canadian Opera Company.

Music Director Anthony Bastianon has over 150 productions to his credit including Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat (Drayton Entertainment), Mary Poppins (Globe Theatre, Regina), Jesus Christ Superstar, The Wedding Singer (Hart House), and Godspell (Sheridan College), as well as 40 productions over 13 seasons with Stage West. His versatility as a musician has brought him opportunities to work with pop celebrities such as Chantel Kreviazuk, Dan Hill and Josh Groban as well as theatre icons Andrea Martin and Michael Burgess. Bastianon is currently on faculty in the Music Theatre Performance Program at Sheridan College and is the artistic director of Voices Rock Canada.

The War Amps CHAMP (Child Amputee) Program offers comprehensive services to child amputees and their families, including financial assistance, regional seminars and peer support. Financial assistance is provided for standard artificial limbs, recreational devices, travel to prosthetic centres and bursaries for post-secondary education. For more information about the program or for ways to donate, visit www.waramps.ca/ways-we-help/child-amputees/.

Watch the trailer below: