The Broadway in South Africa 5th Anniversary Celebration will include a star-studded concert that features original music based on essays and letters from South African students who participate in their youth development programs.
Sonny Paladino (Pippin) will serve as music director, with Tim Drucker and Frankie Grande as co-directors.
Currently scheduled to perform are Shindle (Wonderland, Legally Blonde), Carvajal (Kinky Boots), Cooper (Wicked, Spring Awakening), Erik Altemus (Pippin, The Fantasticks), Marty Thomas (Wicked, Xanadu), Kelly King (winner of the 2013 Viña Del Mar Festival), Alexa Green (Wicked), Marissa Rosen (My Big Gay Italian Wedding), Tony nominee Brandon Victor Dixon (Motown: The Musical, The Scottsboro Boys, The Color Purple), Frankie James Grande (Mamma Mia!), Sean Bradford (The Lion King, The Scottsboro Boys), Christopher Spaulding (The Nutty Professor, Curtains), Emma Hunton (Next to Normal, Spring Awakening), Courtney Reed (Aladdin, In the Heights) and Shoshana Bean (Wicked, Hairspray).
Jeremy Schonfeld, Grammy Award nominee Ryan Shaw and and Joey Contreras are among the evening's contributing composers.
This year, one original song featured at the event will be chosen via social media submissions. Broadway in South Africa has also released a charity single on iTunes in anticipation of the upcoming event. Proceeds from "Babazille Mahlangu," written by composer Jeremy Schonfeld for the very first Broadway in South Africa event and performed by BSA teaching artist Lilli Cooper (Spring Awakening), will directly benefit Broadway in South Africa's commitment to youth development in disadvantaged communities.
"A cross cultural exchange between youth in need and artists who seek to use their talents for change," Broadway in South Africa facilitates arts programming to empower youth living amongst violence, poverty and disease in the townships of South Africa.
The first 50 tickets for the May 6 event can be purchased for 50 percent off and include admission to the post-performance reception. Individual tickets begin at $250, with VIP and sponsorship opportunities also available. For more information, visit BroadwayInSouthAfrica.org or email [email protected].
