Andrew Rannells, Klea Blackhurst & More Set for Broadway Belts for PFF!, 2/24; Julie

Broadway's Julie Halston, currently featured in Charles Busch's new play The Tribute Artist, will host the Fourth Annual Broadway Belts for PFF! to benefit the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) on February 24 at 7:00pm at Birdland Jazz Club (315 West 44th Street) as part of "Broadway at Birdland" series. All proceeds will benefit The Michael Kuchwara Fund for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Research, Education, and Advocacy. For more information visit www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/broadwaybelts or contactamiller@pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call (888) 733-6741.

Ms. Halston is a spokeswoman and activist for pulmonary fibrosis, along with her husband, former Sirius XM news anchor for The Howard Stern Show, Ralph Howard, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2008.

Directed by Carl Andress (The Tribute Artist), the evening will feature Klea Backhurst (Goodspeed Musicals Hello, Dolly!), Tony nominee Liz Callaway, Robert Creighton (Encores! Little Me, The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Tony winner Cady Huffman (The Nance),Andrew Rannells (HBO's Girls and The Book of Mormon), and Rashidra Scott (Beautiful).

Broadway Belts for PFF! features musical direction by Christopher McGovern, musical supervision and arrangements by Ed Windels, script by Ms. Halston and D. Michael Dvorchak, Trisha Henson is stage manager, and Sue Frost (First Date/Memphis) is Co-Producer. Over the past three years over $150,000 has been raised for PFF, and have featured surprise appearances by supporters Linda Lavin, Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey.

Doors open at 5:30pm with curtain time promptly at 7:00pm.

All funds will go toward The Michael Kuchwara Fund for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Research, Education, and Advocacy in honor of the late and beloved Associated Press theater critic and reporter. Michael Kuchwara, Associated Press theater reporter and critic for over 25 years, devoted his life to the theater. In May of 2010, following a brief illness, Kuchwara's untimely passing was linked to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Photo by Jennifer Broski

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