(l to r: Seth Rudetsky, Audra McDonald, Jeremy Jordan and Kelli O’Hara. Photos originally provided by miweb.cr for Broadway @ concert series.)
The Actors Fund, the national human services organization for everyone in performing arts and entertainment, announced today that SiriusXM Broadway host Seth Rudetsky and his husband, producer James Wesley, will produce a daily mini-online show, Stars in The House, featuring stars of stage and screen singing and performing live (from home!) on social media to promote support for The Fund’s services for those most vulnerable to the effects of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Stars in The House will kick off tonight with Kelli O’Hara joining Seth & James at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on The Actors Fund website here as well as Playbill and BroadwayWorld.com. Joining Seth and James tonight will be Dr. Jon LaPook, chief medical correspondent for CBS News.
New shows will be produced daily at the traditional theater times of 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET. Each star will be singing a mix of their hit songs and/or something unexpected. Between each song, Seth will interview the star as he does on SiriusXM, leading them to give fun, inside stories about their careers. Both the star and Seth will encourage people watching to donate at ActorsFund.org/Donate, and James will be providing updates from The Fund as well as giving shout-outs to people donating in real-time.
“Our main concern is raising spirits and helping The Fund help those who are suffering,” Seth said. “We’re hoping that everyone watching will not only enjoy the amazing singing and the inside Broadway stories but also donate to ActorsFund.org/Donate. And, because social distancing is so important right now, every star will be singing from his/her own home!”
Confirmed celebrities include: Ian Armitage, Shoshana Bean, Laura Benanti, Sierra Boggess, Wayne Brady, Betty Buckley, Laura Bell Bundy, Andréa Burns, Kerry Butler, Norbert Leo Butz, Ann Hampton Callaway, Liz Callaway, Carolee Carmello, Kristin Chenoweth, Gavin Creel, Melissa Errico, Raúl Esparza, Christopher Fitzgerald, Kathryn Gallagher, Ana Gasteyer, Mandy Gonzalez, Justin Guarini, Debbie Gravitte, James Monroe Iglehart, Rachel Bay Jones, Jeremy Jordan, Marc Kudish, Judy Kuhn, Anika Larsen, Linda Lavin, Beth Leavel, Telly Leung, Beth Malone, Melissa Manchester, Lindsay Mendez, Idina Menzel, Kate Shindle, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Jessie Mueller, Rosie O’Donnell, Kelli O’Hara, Christine Pedi, Alice Ripley, Adam Pascal, Faith Prince, Kate Shindle, Keala Settle, Marc Shaiman, Jennifer Simard, Elizabeth Stanley, Patrick Wilson and Marissa Jaret Winokur, with many more to be announced!
Added Seth: “Yes, we have to social distance, but the good news is, some celebs live together! So we have some fabulous couples performing due concerts!” Confirmed celebrity couples include Sebastian Arcelus and Stephanie J. Block, Will Chase and Ingrid Michaelson, Jen Cody and Hunter Foster, Jenn Colella and Chilina Kennedy, Colin Donnell and Patti Murrin, Santino and Jessica Fontana, Andy Karl and Orfeh, Liz Larsen and Sal Viviano, Audra McDonald and Will Swenson, Steven Pasquale and Phillipa Soo.
“Now more than ever, people in our community are depending on The Fund’s vital services,” said The Fund Chairman Brian Stokes Mitchell. “It’s critical that we be there for those in need, in particular our seniors and the immunocompromised individuals who need our help, as well as those in financial distress.”
James added, “Seth and I started working on this idea Saturday morning and, because artists have such huge hearts, we had dozens of amazing performers lined up within hours! We’re not the most tech-savvy, at all, but we spent Sunday trying various sites and we think we found a great way to put on a great concert. And, P.S., we’re committed to doing this until Broadway re-opens.”
Stars in The House will air twice daily at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and can be viewed online at www.actorsfund.org/
As the situation with Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, The Actors Fund recently announced a temporary transition to online and phone-based services, which remain available for everyone in the performing arts and entertainment community.
These services include: Artists Health Insurance Resource Center, The Career Center, Housing Resources, Addiction & Recovery, HIV/AIDS and Senior Services, Counseling and Emergency Financial Assistance, as well as The Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.
To make a tax-deductible donation to The Actors Fund, visit www.actorsfund.org/
