Add Tony winners to the galaxy of film and Broadway stars expected to turn out at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre for the June 12 "First You Dream" benefit for the Actors' Fund of America's Catastrophic Care Program and the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation. Brian Stokes Mitchell, Heather Headley, and the Tony-winning casts of Contact and Kiss Me, Kate will perform at the gala tribute to both filmdom's Christopher Reeve and Bran Pace, the young Jolson dancer shot and paralyzed from the chest down after being mugged in Baltimore. Co-chairing the event are a who's-who of film and theatre notables, with Glenn Close, Richard Gere, Liza Minnelli, James Naughton, Bebe Neuwirth, Kelly Preston, Dana Reeve, Chita Rivera, Susan Sarandon, John Travolta, Robin Williams and Scott Wolf (Side Man) signed on so far.
Scheduled to appear are Brooke Shields, Kristen Chenoweth, Bryan Batt, Blythe Danner, Rosemary Harris, Cherry Jones, Sharon Lawrence, Bruce Vilanch, Carolee Carmello, Tsidii Le Loka, Nathan Lane, Marin Mazzie, Idina Menzel, Sherie Renee Scott, Claudia Shear, Lilias White and cast members of The Music Man, Aida, Annie Get Your Gun, Riverdance, Fosse, Beauty and the Beast, Chicago, The Lion King, Footloose and Saturday Night Fever. The Broadway Gospel Choir will also sing.
Tickets range from $2,500-$50. The New Amsterdam Theatre is located at 214 West 42nd Street. For tickets or sponsorships, call (212) 221 7300 ext. 121. The Actors' Fund of America is on the web at http://www.actorsfund.org and The Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation is on the web at http://www.paralysis.com.
