White, Brier, Rudetsky, Ralston and More Will Be Part of Obama Fundraiser, Spare Some Change

By Andrew Gans
July 21, 2008

Spare Some Change: NYC Artists for Barack Obama is the title of an upcoming concert to benefit Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

The Aug. 11 concert will be held in Manhattan at New World Stages. The 8 PM performance is scheduled to include an original song penned by Henry Krieger and Bill Russell performed by Tony winner Lillias White; appearances from "One Life to Live" stars Kathy Brier, BethAnn Bonner and Kamar de los Reyes; songs from Andrew Lippa, Sarah Schlesinger, Mike Reid, Georgia Stitt, Sean Keogh, Kirsten Guenther and Joy Sun; and performances from the casts of Hair, the short-lived Glory Days as well as Mamma Mia!'s Carrie Manolakos, Grease's Lindsay Mendez, Company's Teri Ralston and musician-actor and Playbill.com columnist Seth Rudetsky.

Ryan Mekenian is producing and directing the event with Gena Oppenheim as co-producer and Sally Sibson as production manager. J. Oconer Navarro and Mark Evans will be the musical directors.

In a statement, producers of Spare Some Change said, "This is such an important time for all of us in this country. As many already know, Barack will not accept public funding from lobbyists or political action committees, but instead relies solely on a broad base of individual donors – such as ourselves – to ensure that his campaign answers to no one but the people. Please join us for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so we can make history."

Tickets, priced $16.50, $36.50, $76.50, and $251.50, are available by visiting www.telecharge.com. All proceeds will be donated to Senator Obama's campaign.

For further information or to volunteer to help with the event, e-mail sparesomechangenyc@gmail.com.