Benanti, Gasteyer, Lee, McCartney, Murney, Pasquale, Wilson Join Starry Loesser Tribute

By Andrew Gans
09 Oct 2009

Steven Pasquale and Laura Benanti
Steven Pasquale and Laura Benanti
Photo by Aubrey Reuben

Additional participants have been announced for The Actors Fund's upcoming benefit concert, Chance and Chemistry: A Centennial Celebration of Frank Loesser.

South Pacific's Christopher Gattelli will direct and choreograph the evening, which will be held Oct. 26 at 7:30 PM at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre.

Annette Bening, Kevin McCollum and Jonathan Tisch will host the one-night-only event. Laura Benanti, Ashley Brown, Charles Busch, Ana Gasteyer, Michele Lee, Emily Loesser, Jo Sullivan Loesser, Sir Paul McCartney, John McMartin, Julia Murney, Phyllis Newman, Steven Pasquale, Noah Racey, Ron Raines, Nia Vardalos and Patrick Wilson will join the previously announced Liz Callaway, Debbie Gravitte, Hugh Jackman, Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Chita Rivera, Christopher Sieber and John Stamos for the one-night-only event.

(Due to a preview performance schedule of Fela!, Lillias White, who had been announced to appear, will be unable to participate in the event.)

The evening will feature musical direction by Brad Haak and will be co-chaired by Jo Sullivan Loesser and Sir Paul McCartney.



Frank Loesser supplied both music and lyrics for Guys & Dolls, Where's Charley?, The Most Happy Fella and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.

The Actors Fund, which was founded in 1882, is a non-profit organization that provides for the social welfare of all entertainment professionals. Some of the many programs The Actors Fund provides include a nursing home and assisted living care facility; senior and disabled programs; mental health services; chemical dependency services; entertainment industry assistance programs; the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative; the AIDS Initiative; and supportive housing on both coasts.

For more information and sponsorship opportunities, call The Actors Fund at (212) 221-7300, ext. 133.