Tony Award nominees Judy Kuhn and Jeff Blumenkrantz will join Karen Mason, Michael Longoria, and other Broadway and pop stars for Songs in the Key of Equality’s April 3 We Rise Together benefit concert at Le Poisson Rouge club in New York City.
Proceeds from the event will benefit benefit the Swish Ally Fund at the Stonewall Community Foundation, two organizations that support causes and charities that help the LGBTQ community. A complete list of beneficiaries appears below.
Co-hosting and performing at this year's concert will be Natalie Joy Johnson (Kinky Boots, Legally Blonde) and Ben Cameron (Wicked, Broadway Sessions).
Sue Sena, president of Swish Ally Fund, told Playbill, “The concert this year is more important than ever. The rights of LGBTQ people, people of color, and other marginalized groups are the targets of a hateful and bigoted government. The concert raises funds to support organizations who are on the front lines of resistance every day.”
Stars on tap so far: Judy Kuhn (four-time Tony Award nominee for Fun Home, She Loves Me, Chess, Les Misérables), Jeff Blumenkrantz (Bright Star, Tony Award nominee for Urban Cowboy), Karen Mason (12-time MAC Award winner, Wonderland, Mamma Mia!, Sunset Boulevard), Michael Longoria (Jersey Boys, The Midtown Men), and Jill Paice (An American In Paris, Matilda), plus Siren, Jodi Bluestein (Disney On Classic), Adam Chandler (MAC Award nominee), Marti Gould Cummings (Sip N Chat on PBS), Nicolas Dromard (Jersey Boys, Mary Poppins), Chris Gleim (The Radio City Christmas Spectacular), Ashanti J'aria (Disaster!), Kevin Smith Kirkwood (Kinky Boots), Donnie Cianciotto (Southern Comfort), Vicky Modica, and Molly Tynes.
The concert will be directed by Erik Sisco (I Am Harvey Milk, Stonewall Sensation); Brandon James Gwinn will serve as musical director.
In its three years of existence, the Swish Ally Fund at The Stonewall Community Foundation has awarded $16,000 to 15 organizations. For 2017, the Swish Ally Fund is supporting nonprofits that advocate and empower LGBTQ people of color and immigrants, young people, and the homeless. Swish says it funds groups that “fight for justice, dignity, equality, security, gun control, marriage equality, and housing creation.” Most of the groups are located in New York, but one this year serves the people of North Carolina.
Proceeds from this year’s concert will benefit:
Ali Forney Center for the Bea Arthur House and teen transgender programs
FIERCE
Gays Against Guns
Harlem Same Gender Loving/LGBTQ Center
NYC Anti-Violence Project
True Colors Fund
Youth OUTRight (North Carolina)
Doors for the annual event open at 7 PM; the concert begins at 8. Tickets, at $26.87 to $259.74 (including service fee), are available at Werisetogether.bpt.me.
Le Poisson Rouge is located at 158 Bleecker Street, between Sullivan Street and Thompson Street in Manhattan.
SHOP FOR BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS MERCHANDISE AT PLAYBILLSTORE.COM.
