The 7 PM concert will celebrate the Foundation, which was created after the vicious murder of the young gay college student in October 1998. Shepard's mother, Judy Shepard, will be on hand to honor her son's memory at the upcoming concert. The evening will also include performances by Broadway leading men Christopher Sieber and Max von Essen as well as singer/songwriter Randi Driscoll, Noah Heldman, Dave Eggar, David Gurland and pop duo Jason and DeMarco. Jim Caruso will host the event.
The Matthew Shepard Foundation, according to a press statement, "carries out Matthew's legacy by developing educational projects and activities that raise awareness of the issues involving discrimination and diversity. The Foundation's goal is to educate and replace hate with understanding, compassion, and acceptance." For more information visit www.MatthewShepard.org.
On Broadway Christopher Sieber has been seen in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Into the Woods, Triumph of Love, Chicago and, currently, in Spamalot. His other theatrical credits include Boys in the Band, A Christmas Carol, Pal Joey, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Meet Me in St. Louis. Sieber’s television credits include “Two of a Kind,” “Sex and the City,” “Ed,” “All My Children,” “Another World” and “It’s All Relative.”
Max von Essen, who will be part of the Kennedy Center's upcoming production of Mame, recently appeared Off-Broadway in Finian's Rainbow and in the Paper Mill Playhouse production of The Baker's Wife. On Broadway the actor has been seen in Dance of the Vampires, Jesus Christ Superstar and Les Misérables; his Off-Broadway credits include The Fantasticks and John & Paul. Von Essen's regional credits are numerous and include Dorian the Musical, My Fair Lady, Hair, Blood Brothers and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He was also part of the all-star benefit concert of Children of Eden and can currently be seen in the Two River Theater Company's production of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.
Tickets, priced $25, 50 and $100, are available by visiting www.birdlandjazz.com.
