Joe’s Pub will present the ninth annual Living for Today concert October 30, titled Living for Today: “My First Time.” Slated to perform at the one-night-only event are Alice Ripley, Alysha Umphress, and Erin Davie, who will be singing songs from the first Broadway show they ever saw.
The concert will take place at Joe’s Pub at 7 PM and will help raise money for Gilana’s Fund, which provides funding for educational programming “promoting acceptance and understanding of our communities, each other, and ourselves.” The series was created in 2008, a year after the passing of Gilana Alpert at the age of 26, by her brother David Alpert, a New York-based director. It has helped raised nearly $50,000 and benefited numerous non-profit organizations nationwide.
With direction by David Alpert, the complete lineup features Janine DiVita (Mystery of Edwin Drood, Grease); Carmen Ruby Floyd (After Midnight); Autumn Hurlbert (Legally Blonde); Amber Iman (Shuffle Along, Soul Doctor); Andy Kelso (Kinky Boots, Mamma Mia); Liz McCartney (South Pacific, Les Mis); The Doo Wop Project, and more to be announced.
The band includes Jason Wetzel, Gregg Monteith, and Danny Weller. Ben Cameron (Wicked, Aida) will host the event.
“This is a monumental time in our nation’s history when it comes to celebrating and encouraging the value of acceptance, and it is crucial that we come together as a community to discuss this issue,“ commented Alpert in a press statement. “The Living for Today concert series is a special event for me and one that I’m incredibly proud of as it not only stands for this important cause, but also carries out my sister’s legacy. I’m thankful to have this group of Broadway singers join me in raising money for Gilana’s Fund, and in honoring the organizations across the country that are doing significant work. This year’s concert will be a lot of fun, as each performer sings from the first Broadway show that they ever saw!“
For tickets and more information visit PublicTheater.org