von Essen sings Arden at Birdland October 10
By: BWW News Desk Oct. 09, 2005
in Benefit Concert Tomorrow (Monday)
at Birdland! A highlight of tomorrow's benefit concert for the Matthew Shepard Foundation at Birdland will be Max von Essen's performance of "Not Afraid," from Michael Arden's "Easter Rising." Von Essen, who has starred on and off-Broadway in Dance of the Vampires and Finian's Rainbow, says, "It's the first time I've sung the song...but it's so incredibly beautiful. It's captures the moment when a man realizes he's in love with another man. It seems very appropriate for the evening, since we're celebrating the life of Matthew Shepard, who lost his life because of who he loved." Also in the concert will be Christopher Sieber (Spamalot, Chicago), singer/songwriter Randi Driscoll with Noah Heldman, Dave Eggar, and David Gurland, pop duo Jason & DeMarco, cabaret superstar Billy Stritch and host Jim Caruso. The evening will celebrate The Matthew Shepard Foundation, named in memory of the young college student who lost his life in a vicious anti-gay hate crime in October of 1998. Members of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, along with his mother, Judy Shepard, will be on hand to honor his memory and celebrate his life with music.
Monday, October 10 at 7pm
Birdland - 315 West 44th Street, NYC
Reservations - www.birdlandjazz.com
212-581-3080
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