A galaxy of film and Broadway stars are expected to turn out at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre for the June 12 "First You Dream" benefit for the Actors' Fund of America's Catastrophic Care Program and the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation. The gala is a tribute to both filmdom's Christopher Reeve and Bran Pace, the young Jolson dancer shot and paralyzed from the chest down after being mugged in Baltimore.
Co-chairing the event are a who's-who of film and theatre notables, with Glenn Close, Richard Gere, Liza Minnelli, James Naughton, Bebe Neuwirth, Kelly Preston, Dana Reeve, Chita Rivera, Susan Sarandon, Brian Stokes Mitchell (Kiss Me, Kate), John Travolta, Robin Williams and Scott Wolf (Side Man) signed on so far.
Scheduled to perform are Kristen Chenoweth, Blythe Danner, Rosemary Harris, Heather Headley, Cherry Jones, Sharon Lawrence, Tsidii Le Loka, Nathan Lane, Marin Mazzie, Idina Menzel, Paige Price, Sherie Renee Scott, Amy Spanger and cast members of Kiss Me, Kate, The Music Man, Aida, Annie Get Your Gun, Riverdance, Fosse, Beauty and the Beast, Chicago, The Lion King, Contact, Footloose and Saturday Night Fever.
Tickets range from $2,500-$50. The New Amsterdam Theatre is located at 214 West 42nd Street. For tickets or sponsorships, call (212) 221 7300 ext. 121. The Actors' Fund of America is on the web at http://www.actorsfund.org and The Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation is on the web at http://www.paralysis.com.
-- By Christine Ehren
