PRESS RELEASE — Celebrated Cabaret Artist LADY RIZO in Concert at Los Angeles LGBT’s Renberg Theatre — Thursday 10/30

The Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center Presents LADY RIZO in Concert Celebrated Cabaret Artist Makes Renberg Theatre Debut Thursday, October 30 at 8pm

“SENSATIONAL … A fierce but kindhearted fusion of comedy, burlesque, performance art and rock ‘n’ roll.” — New York Times The Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Lily Tomlin/Jane Wagner Cultural Arts Center has announced the Renberg Theatre debut of New York’s internationally acclaimed cabaret artist Lady Rizo. The one-night-only concert is on Thursday, October 30 at 8pm. The “Cabaret Superstar” (New York Magazine), comedienne, and chanteuse revives the genre by creating vintage arrangements and theatrical explorations of pop songs from every decade. In 2005, Lady Rizo (née Amelia Zirin-Brown) co-created the cult CaBurlesque spectacular, Lady Rizo & the Assettes. In January 2010 she won her first Grammy Award on a duet with acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma that was released on a holiday album featuring Diana Krall, James Taylor, and Alison Krauss, among others. Lady Rizo also sang and recorded with multi-platinum recording artist Moby and was nominated for an MVPA for the choreography in the video for the single “New York, New York,” featuring Debbie Harry. A proud recipient of the New York Foundation for the Arts fellowship in 2010, Lady Rizo has performed her sold-out show monthly at Joe’s Pub since 2009 and was commissioned for a full-length piece by the Public Theater which premiered as part of the New York Voices series in November 2011. For more information, visit www.ladyrizo.com. General admission tickets are $25 and may be purchased online at www.lalgbtcenter.org/theatre or by phone at (323) 860-7300. Net proceeds will support the full range of free and low-cost programs and services offered by the Los Angeles LGBT Center. The Renberg Theatre is located at the Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Place (one block east of Highland, just north of Santa Monica Boulevard), in Hollywood. Free onsite parking is available.

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10-02-14

About the Los Angeles LGBT Center Since 1969 the Los Angeles LGBT Center has cared for, championed and celebrated LGBT individuals and families in Los Angeles and beyond. Today the Center’s more than 450 employees and 3,000 volunteers provide services for more LGBT people than any other organization in the world, offering programs, services and global advocacy that span four broad categories: Health, Social Services and Housing, Culture and Education, Leadership and Advocacy. We are an unstoppable force in the fight against bigotry and the struggle to build a better world; a world in which LGBT people can be healthy, equal and complete members of society. Learn more at www.lalgbtcenter.org.

Announcing: A Relief Benefit Concert for the Philippines — December 18 at the Pasadena Playhouse

A RELIEF BENEFIT CONCERT
FOR THE PHILIPPINES
AT THE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE

PROCEEDS TO SUPPORT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
PRODUCED BY PATTY ONAGAN AND RONN GOSWICK
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013 AT 7:30PM

In response to the devastating typhoon and its aftermath in the Philippines, producers Patty Onagan and Ronn Goswick have announced A Relief Benefit Concert for the Philippines at The Pasadena Playhouse, a one-night-only event on Wednesday, December 18 at 7:30pm. Proceeds will support the American Red Cross’ Typhoon Appeal and its efforts to assist overseas as the people of the Philippines begin to recover and rebuild.

A sparkling who’s who of Los Angeles and Broadway talent will be coming together to show their support, entertain, and help raise money to assist with relief efforts in the Philippines. The performers, in alphabetical order, include Joan Almedilla (Les Misérables/Miss Saigon), Michael Arden (bare: a rock musical/FX Network’s Anger Management), Sharon Catherine Blanks (Dreamgirls) and Billy Blanks, Jr. (Fame), Yvette Cason (Dreamgirls), LaVance Colley (Smokey Joe’s Cafe), Loretta Devine (Dreamgirls/ABC-TV’s Grey’s Anatomy), Danny Gurwin (The Scarlet Pimpernel/Little Women), Cliffton Hall and Deedee Magno Hall (Wicked), Sam Harris (The Life/The Producers), Dawnn Lewis (Sister Act: The Musical/NBC-TV’s A Different World), Andy Mientus (Spring Awakening/Les Misérables), Nicole Parker (Funny Girl/Wicked), Jennifer Paz and Anthony Federov (Miss Saigon/Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Valerie Perri (Evita/Gypsy/Man of La Mancha), Kelli Provart (Aida), Joan Ryan (Ruthless/TV’s Saved By The Bell), Gwen Stewart (Rent), Lea Thompson (Cabaret/NBC’s Caroline in the City), and Nita Whitaker (cabaret and concert star). All appearances are subject to availability.

Said Pasadena Playhouse Artistic Director Sheldon Epps, “The Playhouse is always honored to support important efforts in our beautiful theatre, and that is certainly the case here. As always, theatre artists are ever generous with their time and talents when there is a great need. It is our pleasure to support that generosity by hosting this valuable event.”

“The devastation in the Philippines is horrific and unfathomable,” said co-producer Patty Onagan. “How can we not do everything possible to assist in the clean-up and recovery?” Added co-producer Ronn Goswick, “We are overwhelmed by the response from the entertainment community. Performers have literally been lining up to join our effort.”

A Relief Benefit Concert for the Philippines at The Pasadena Playhouse will be directed by Jeffrey Polk with (in alphabetical order) Abdul Hamid Royal, Todd Schroeder, Gerald Sternbach, and John Gentry Tennyson serving as musical directors. Tickets range in price from $35 — $100, with a $250 VIP ticket that includes premium seating and a pre-show meet and greet with the performers. Tickets can be purchased online at www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org, by calling (626) 356-7529, or in person at The Playhouse box office.

The Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena.

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11-27-13

Announcing: ‘Sparkle! An All-Star Holiday Concert’ on Friday 12/13 at Acme Theatre will Benefit The Actors Fund

★★ SPARKLE! AN ALL-STAR HOLIDAY CONCERT ★★

ARRIVES IN LOS ANGELES ON DECEMBER 13 AT ACME THEATRE IN HOLLYWOOD

PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE ACTORS FUND

Star-studded holiday benefit SPARKLE! An All-Star Holiday Concert comes to Los Angeles for the first time with an exclusive and intimate performance at the Acme Theatre in Hollywood for one night only on Friday, December 13 at 7:30pm. Proceeds will benefit the programs and services of The Actors Fund.

After four sold-out years in Palm Springs, CA and an additional two years in New York City, SPARKLE! comes to Los Angeles. For this special holiday event, producer and host Scott Nevins has gathered an all-star cast of performers from the worlds of Broadway, television, film, and the music industry to help sing in the season.

Andrew Rannells (Tony Award® nominee for The Book of Mormon/NBC’s The New Normal/HBO’s Girls) leads the impressive list of stars who are scheduled to perform. Also ready to dazzle the crowd are Sharon McNight (Starmites), Ginifer King (Gypsy/Steel Magnolias), Stacey Oristano (NBC’s Friday Night Lights/ABC Family’s Bunheads), Milena Govich (Cabaret/Law & Order), Max von Essen (Evita/Les Misérables), Shoshana Bean (Hairspray, Wicked), Matt Zarley (The Who’s Tommy/Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Erin Quill (Avenue Q), Constantine Rousouli (Ghost/ Wicked), Julie Garnye (Les Misérables/Chicago), Emerson Collins (Sordid Lives The Series/Bravo’s The People’s Couch), Blake McIver (Bravo’s The People’s Couch), Lexi Lawson (Rent/In the Heights), and Billboard Top 20 recording artist Kelly King. The show will also feature a special reading of T’was The Night Before Christmas by the legendary Lainie Kazan. Scott Nevins hosts, with Jesse Vargas serving as music director and arranger. The evening is made possible by generous support from presenting sponsors Jim Burba and Bob Hayes.

The Actors Fund is a national human services organization that helps everyone— performers and those behind the scenes — that works in performing arts and entertainment, assisting more than 13,500 people in person each year, and hundreds of thousands more online. Serving professionals in film, theatre, television, music, opera, radio and dance, The Fund’s programs include social services and emergency financial assistance, health care and insurance counseling, housing, and employment and training services. With offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, The Actors Fund has — for 131 years — been a safety net for those in need, crisis or transition.

Ticket prices for SPARKLE! An All-Star Holiday Concert range from $35 — $100 (VIP package including priority seating and post-show meet and greet). To purchase online, go to http://bit.ly/SparkleLA2013. The Acme Theatre in Hollywood is located at 135 N. La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles, 90036.

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11-21-13