Big Ol' Fancy Pants Benefit, With Adriane Lenox, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Caissie Levy and More, Offered Nov. 26 in NYC

By Michael Gioia
26 Nov 2012

Adriane Lenox
Adriane Lenox
Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Tony Award winner Adriane Lenox (Doubt, Kiss Me Kate), Tony nominee Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Ghost) and Benjamin Walker (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson) are among the artists taking part in the Big Ol' Fancy Pants Benefit Nov. 26 at The Five Angels Theater.

The 7 PM concert benefits Zara Aina, founded by Broadway actors Lucas Caleb Rooney (Golden Boy, Country Girl) and Bryce Pinkham (Ghost, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson), which pairs New York acting students with at-risk children in Madagascar to create original pieces of physical theatre based in Malagasy folktales.

Other artists scheduled to perform include Caissie Levy (Ghost, Hair, Wicked), Drama Desk Award winner Lorenzo Pisoni (Humor Abuse, Henry IV), jazz recording artist Katie Schutt and Jon Batiste's Stay Human Band.

In spring 2013, Zara Aina's efforts will culminate in a national tour of Madagascar, during which the children will deliver educational aid and culturally relevant performances to communities in need.

"Two years ago, I traveled impetuously to Madagascar looking for lemurs and bio diversity," said co-founder Rooney in a statement. "What I got instead was my membership in humanity: a connection to the joy, hope, despair, and wonder that binds us all, contingent only on giving it away as freely as you receive it."

The Five Angels Theater is located at 789 10th Avenue. For more information and tickets, visit Zaraaina.org.