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: Frenchie Davis Joins “New York’s Finest” as Mistress of Ceremonies

FRENCHIE DAVIS, STAR OF NBC’s THE VOICE, JOINS
NEW YORK’S FINEST: THE LEADING MEN OF BROADWAY
AS MISTRESS OF CEREMONIES

THE EVENING WILL STAR FIVE OF BROADWAY’S
FINEST YOUNG LEADING MEN:
DAVID BURNHAM, BRANDON VICTOR DIXON, CHAD KIMBALL,
LEVI KREIS, AND ACE YOUNG
DIRECTED BY SAM HARRIS
WITH MUSIC DIRECTION BY BRENT CRAYON

ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
AT THE JOHN ANSON FORD AMPHITHEATRE

Frenchie Davis, star of NBC’s The Voice, will act as Mistress of Ceremonies for New York’s Finest: The Leading Men of Broadway on Friday, September 16 at 8:30pm at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre. Produced by Chris Isaacson Presents, this one-night-only concert event will star (in alphabetical order) David Burnham, Brandon Victor Dixon, Chad Kimball, Levi Kreis, and Ace Young. Sam Harris will direct, and the music director is Brent Crayon.

Frenchie Davis has just returned to Los Angeles from The Voice national tour. Her original breakthrough came on season two of American Idol, where her stage presence and powerhouse vocals cemented her as an audience and critics’ favorite. Ms. Davis then headed directly to Broadway, where she appeared in Rent for four years. She also played Effie in the West Coast tour of the revival of Dreamgirls, as well as the 30th Anniversary touring production of Ain’t Misbehavin’ (opposite American Idol winner Ruben Studdard). In the summer of 2010, she performed at the Americana at Brand’s Summer Concert Series alongside Grammy Award nominees Natasha Bedingfield and Taylor Dayne for an audience of over 10,000 people.

Five of Broadway’s finest young leading men will heat up the open-air stage of the Ford Amphitheatre, re-creating the original performances that thrilled Broadway audiences in hits such as Wicked, Memphis, Grease, Hair, The Color Purple, and Million Dollar Quartet. These shining stars will also dazzle with singular interpretations of songs from the hit shows Sweeney Todd, Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Lion King, West Side Story, Dreamgirls, and more.

Direct from Broadway, the five young men are David Burnham (Wicked, The Light in the Piazza), Tony Award-nominee Brandon Victor Dixon (The Color Purple, The Scottsboro Boys), Tony Award-nominee Chad Kimball (Memphis, Into the Woods), Tony Award-winner Levi Kreis (Million Dollar Quartet), and American Idol’s Ace Young (Hair, Grease).

Chris Isaacson Presents has created, produced and promoted over 450 events since Isaacson formed his company in 2004. Most recently, Isaacson produced the ninth annual Summer Concert Series at The Grove in Los Angeles, which featured multi Grammy Award- winner Sergio Mendes, Orianthi, Star Search Grand Champion Jake Simpson, Grammy Award-winner Richard Marx, Lonestar, and American Idol’s Blake Lewis. From small clubs to major theatres, Isaacson has produced some of the most influential stars of his generation, including Adam Lambert (American Idol), Lea Michele (Spring Awakening, Glee), Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), Grammy Award-winner Paula Cole, and more. Isaacson’s concerts have been featured on Access Hollywood, Extra, KABC’s On The Red Carpet, KTLA Morning News, and in both the Los Angeles Times and New York Post. Isaacson is also the creator/founder of LA’s renowned Upright Cabaret, which has been redefining the cabaret milieu for a new generation of audiences in Los Angeles since 2005. For more information, visit www.ChrisIsaacsonPresents.com.

New York’s Finest: The Leading Men of Broadway is a one night only special event on Friday, September 16, at 8:30pm, at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Boulevard East, in Los Angeles, 90068. Tickets are on sale now. Admission is $40 for reserved seating, and a $75 VIP package includes premium seating, post-performance artist meet and greet, and much more. Student and senior discounts are also available. To purchase tickets, go to www.fordamphitheatre.org/en/events/details/id/289 or call (323) 461-3673. Tickets for reserved seating purchased prior to September 9 receive a $5 discount.

For more information about this and other Chris Isaacson Presents shows, including scheduled performers, showtimes, and tickets, visit www.ChrisIsaacsonPresents.com.

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09-01-11

Announcing: New York’s Finest, The Leading Men of Broadway – One Night Only, Friday, September 16

CHRIS ISAACSON PRESENTS
NEW YORK’S FINEST: THE LEADING MEN OF BROADWAY
STARRING DAVID BURNHAM, BRANDON VICTOR DIXON,
SAM HARRIS, CHAD KIMBALL, LEVI KREIS, AND ACE YOUNG

ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
AT THE JOHN ANSON FORD AMPHITHEATRE

Chris Isaacson Presents has announced a one-night-only concert event at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre on Friday, September 16 at 8:30pm. New York’s Finest: The Leading Men of Broadway will star (in alphabetical order) David Burnham, Brandon Victor Dixon, Sam Harris, Chad Kimball, Levi Kreis, and Ace Young. Harris will direct, and the music director is Brent Crayon.

Five of Broadway’s finest young leading men will heat up the open-air stage of the Ford Amphitheatre, recreating the original performances that thrilled Broadway audiences in hits such as Wicked, Billy Elliot, Jersey Boys, Memphis, the recent revival of West Side Story, The Lion King, the recent revival of Hair, Sweeney Todd, Jesus Christ Superstar, and many others. Director Sam Harris promises, “a powerful and seductive evening of extraordinary entertainment with a rare combination of New York’s hottest stars.”

David Burnham was in the original cast of the Tony Award-winning musical The Light in the Piazza, performing on the Tony Awards and the PBS special Live From Lincoln Center. Most recently, he appeared off-Broadway in the hit musical revue The Best Is Yet To Come: The Music of Cy Coleman, sharing the stage with Lillias White, Rachel York, Sally Mayes and Billy Stritch. His other stage credits also include Wicked, Jesus Christ Superstar, Peggy Sue Got Married, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Assassins, to name only a few. For LML Music, David has recorded two CDs, David Burnham and One Day. For more, visit www.DavidBurnham.com.

Brandon Victor Dixon received a Tony Award nomination for his portrayal of Harpo in The Color Purple, appeared in House of Flowers at City Center Encores, and he was in the off-Broadway production of The Scottsboro Boys. He portrayed the Adult Simba in the National Tour of The Lion King, and Brandon has many television credits, including One Life to Live, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and The Good Wife. For more, visit www.BrandonVictorDixon.com.

Sam Harris has been lauded by critics as one of the most powerful and versatile forces on the stage. His numerous appearances on television and concerts at Carnegie Hall have become legendary. On Broadway, he received a Tony Award nomination for his performance in The Life, and, also on Broadway, he appeared in Grease and The Producers. Sam toured the country in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and he has appeared in many other productions. Along with performing in New York’s Finest, he will serve as director. For more, visit www.SamHarris.com.

Chad Kimball is a 2010 Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award nominee for his role in Memphis. Other Broadway credits include Lennon, Into the Woods (2002 revival), The Civil War, and Good Vibrations. Off Broadway, Chad appeared in Finian’s Rainbow, My Life with Albertine, and Godspell. Regional theatre credits include Sweeney Todd, Baby, and Little Fish (Blank Theatre Company in Los Angeles). For more, visit www.ChadKimball.com.

Levi Kreis won the Tony and Outer Critics Circle Awards in 2010 for his portrayal of Jerry Lee Lewis in the Broadway production of Million Dollar Quartet after originating the role in Chicago, where he received a Jeff Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Levi is a multi-award-winning recording artist, and he has toured nearly 400 cities nationwide with three critically acclaimed albums to his credit. For more, visit www.LeviKreis.com.

Ace Young is a recording artist and Grammy Award-nominated songwriter with number one songs in both the United States and Sweden. In addition to working on his own music, he is constantly collaborating with the best songwriters and producers for publishers and record labels around the world. Ace has appeared on television shows (American Idol), and has starred in the Broadway productions of Hair and Grease. For more, visit www.AceYoung.com.

Chris Isaacson Presents has created, produced and promoted over 450 events since Isaacson formed his company in 2004. From small clubs to major theatres, Isaacson has produced some of the most influential stars of his generation, including Adam Lambert (American Idol), Lea Michele (Spring Awakening, Glee), Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), Grammy Award nominee Natasha Bedingfield, three-time Grammy nominee Taylor Dayne, Grammy Award-winner Paula Cole, and more. Isaacson’s concerts have been featured on Access Hollywood, Extra, KABC’s On The Red Carpet, KTLA Morning News, and in both the Los Angeles Times and New York Post. Isaacson is also the creator/founder of LA’s renowned Upright Cabaret, which has been redefining the cabaret milieu for a new generation of audiences in Los Angeles since 2005. For more information, visit www.ChrisIsaacsonPresents.com.

New York’s Finest: The Leading Men of Broadway will play one performance only, on Friday, September 16, at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Boulevard East, in Los Angeles, 90068. Showtime is 8:30pm, and tickets are on sale now. Admission is $40 for reserved seating, and a $75 VIP package includes premium seating, post-performance artist meet and greet, and much more. Student and senior discounts are also available. To purchase tickets, go to www.fordamphitheatre.org/en/events/details/id/289 or call (323) 461-3673. Tickets for reserved seating purchased prior to September 9 receive a $5 discount.

For more information about this and other Chris Isaacson Presents shows, including scheduled performers, showtimes, and tickets, visit www.ChrisIsaacsonPresents.com.

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08-22-11