Wingspan Arts Presents Art2Life '08 Tonight, 5/19

Wingspan Arts proudly announces its fifth annual fundraising benefit Arts2Life '08, which will take place Monday, May 19 from 6:30-9:30 PM at the Hard Rock Cafe (1501 Broadway).  This year the evening's entertainment will celebrate one of Broadway's most beloved and prolific songwriting teams, Kander & Ebb, with performances of well-known songs from shows including Chicago, Cabaret, Curtains and others.  Benefit Co-Chairs Donnie Kehr (Jersey Boys) and Paul Salvatore (Proskauer Rose LLP) have assembled a top-notch cast of performers including Broadway standouts and talented up-and-comers.

Arts2Life '08 will include dinner, cocktails and a lively show featuring performances by Wingspan's talented students and key members of the Wingspan Arts team: Paul Ashley, Jessica Bashline, Cara Kossman, Tommy Marr, Marissa Porto and Bevin Ross along with Rebecca Ashley (Teacher, Convent of The Scared Heart School), along with current members of the cast of Jersey Boys including Benefit Co-Chair Donnie Kehr (The Who's Tommy, Aida), Travis Cloer, Peter Gregus (Funny Girl, Contact) and Sara Schmidt (Brooklyn, Dance Of The Vampires).  Other Broadway stars who will brighten the evening with performances include: Lori Eure (Cabaret), Krisha Marcano (The Color Purple), Gerry McIntyre (Once On This Island, Chicago, Anything Goes), Julia Murney (Lennon, Hair, Wicked, Chess, Funny Girl), Daniel Reichard (Candide, Jersey Boys, Best Little Whorehouse In Texas) and Christopher Spaulding (Curtains).  

The evening's music will be directed by Jim Abbott (High Fidelity, Tarzan, The Drowsy Chaperone, Wicked) and performed by Kevin Dow (drums: Jersey Boys), David Kuhn (bass: Taboo), Kevin Kuhn (guitar: The Lion King, The Who's Tommy, The Secret Garden, Chess), Jay Leslie (sax & flute: "The Tokens"), Matt Paterson (trumpet: Curtains), Steve Snider (keyboards: Jersey Boys).

The not-for-profit Wingspan Arts, founded seven years ago in New York City, offers customized In-school, After-school, Conservatory and Partnership programs for children in grades K-12.  Monies raised at Arts2Life will allow Wingspan Arts to continue and expand its programs, sustain scholarships and increase tuition assistance and overall program support.  In addition, event proceeds will underwrite tuition and other costs to enable more students to attend the organization's conservatory and After-school programs.  Wingspan Arts recently announced that for the first time, its upcoming Summer Conservatory will offer merit-based, tuition-free enrollment to participating middle and high school students.

Wingspan's programs and teaching artists make a difference in kids' lives everyday.  No child or school has ever been turned away from participating in Wingspan Arts' programs due to the inability to pay.   

Wingspan Arts, one of the New York region's fastest growing providers of high quality In-school and After-school arts education programs for children in grades K-12, began in 2001 with one program in one school serving 60 children.  It currently offers 30 programs in over 25 schools and sites in New York City, Westchester and New Jersey, operates a year-round conservatory program, sponsors an annual kids film festival, employs over 180 teaching artists and serves thousands of children annually.  

Arts2Life '08, a benefit for Wingspan Arts, is set for Monday, May 19 from 6:30-9:30 PM at the Hard Rock Cafe (1501 Broadway at 44th Street).  Prices range from $150 (Guest level - 1 ticket) to $10,000 (Underwriter level – 10 tickets).  Preferred seating given to $1,500 ticket holders and above.  A limited number of single tickets are available to the public for $100.  For reservations call Amanda Laut (212) 586-2330 or Karen Hershey (212) 343-1920 or email info@wingspanarts.org.  For more info, visit www.WingspanArts.org.

Please note: $100 of each ticket is not tax deductible.