Andrew Rannells. Photo by Joan Marcus.
As I’ve mentioned before, on Monday nights in this town you can’t swing a former cast member of Cats without hitting stage stars performing in a benefit. However, the NYCLU just released the initial line-up for their annual Broadway Stands Up for Freedom concert (July 25th at the Skirball Center in NYC) and it caught my attention. From big deals of the moment Nikki M. James and Andrew Rannells (The Book of Mormon) to innovative writer/director Moisés Kaufman (The Laramie Project), from heartthrob/activist Gavin Creel (Hair) to indie darling Nellie McKay (Get Away from Me), they’ve got an eclectic mix of talent that looks very intriguing.
The sweet (and tart) cherry on top of this one-of-a-kind event is host and music director Seth Rudetsky. If you don’t know Seth, he’s Broadway’s head cheerleader, resident historian and all-around live wire, famous for his hysterical “Seth Deconstructs” video series. With him running the show, anything can happen…and probably will.
Tickets are available now and all proceeds go to benefit the NYCLU’s youth programs, including its work with LGBT teenagers and its Teen Health Initiative, which educates teenagers on their rights to access health care in New York City.
After the jump, let’s get a taste of what’s in store for the benefit with one of my all-time favorite “Seth Deconstructs” and a promotional video from last year’s event.
http://youtu.be/MD6yhwWMTvM[/embed
