Defying Inequality Benefit, Hosted by Gold and Kressley, Presented Feb. 23 at the Gershwin | Playbill

Related Articles
News Defying Inequality Benefit, Hosted by Gold and Kressley, Presented Feb. 23 at the Gershwin Emmy Award winners Judy Gold and Carson Kressley co-host Defying Inequality: The Broadway Concert — A Celebrity Benefit for Equal Rights Feb. 23 at the Gershwin Theatre, the current home of Wicked.
//assets.playbill.com/editorial/8c5ec0d538001debead2cf7b962ff145-7D3057C1CA4C4C2998C406A9DF267B34.jpg
Judy Gold Photo by Aubrey Reuben

The 8 PM performance benefits Family Equality Council, Empire State Pride Agenda, Equality California, Garden State Equality and The Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force, five charitable organizations working to "promote equality and protect civil rights for the gay and lesbian community."

The evening boasts the Broadway debut of Marc Shaiman's Prop 8 - The Musical (Shaiman will also perform) as well as a special performance by Wicked composer-lyricist Stephen Schwartz and pop star Cyndi Lauper, who made her Broadway debut in the recent revival of The Threepenny Opera. Sir Elton John and David Furnish will also be featured in a special video message.

Also currently scheduled for the fundraiser are Jane Fonda, Keith Olbermann, Sally Struthers, Rev. Al Sharpton, Douglas Carter Beane, Shoshana Bean, PJ Benjamin, Mike Birbiglia, Stephanie J. Block, Tamara Braun, Daniel Breaker, Kerry Butler, Lynda Carter, Gavin Creel, Paige Davis, Harvey Fierstein, John Gallagher, Jr., Judy Gold, Jonathan Groff, The Gay Men's Chorus, Malcolm Gets, Jane Houdyshell, Crystal Hunt, Mark Indelicato, Allison Janney, Capathia Jenkins, Carson Kressley, Nathan Lane, Laughing Pizza, Adriane Lenox, Cameron Mathison, Rue McClanahan, Phyllis Newman, Patrick Paige, Nicole Parker, David Hyde Pierce, Billy Porter, Seth Rudesky, Sherri Saum, Christopher Sieber, Carole Shelley, Doug Spearman, Mary Testa, Tamara Tunie, Michael Urie, Scott Wittman, The Broadway Boys, Don't Quit Your Night Job, members of the closing cast of Gypsy, cast members from Billy Elliot, cast members from Jersey Boys, cast members from The Color Purple national tour, cast members from The Lion King, cast members from The Little Mermaid, cast members from Mary Poppins, cast members from "Saturday Night Live," cast members from "Sesame Street," cast members from South Pacific, cast members from Hair, original cast members from Spring Awakening and cast members from Wicked.

Schele Williams and Anthony Galde direct Defying Inequality with musical direction by James Sampliner.

A day-of-performance lottery for $25 seats will be held at the Gershwin at 5:30 PM. The evening will be sign interpreted.

For tickets and more information, call (212) 307-4100 or visit www.defyinginequality.com.

 
RELATED:
Today’s Most Popular News:
 X

Blocking belongs
on the stage,
not on websites.

Our website is made possible by
displaying online advertisements to our visitors.

Please consider supporting us by
whitelisting playbill.com with your ad blocker.
Thank you!