South Orange, NJ (March 8, 2010): In response to the devastating January 12, earthquake, a star-studded line-up of Broadway actors and jazz musicians will take the stage at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) in South Orange, New Jersey on Sunday, March 28, 2010 at 7:00pm. The event will feature performances by: Geri Allen, Shane Bland, Cecil Brooks III, Catherine Brunnell, Kristin Carbone, Maurice Chestnut, Kenny Davis, Bradley Dean, Rosena M. Hill Jackson, Mark Jacoby, Melissa Lone, Janelle Anne Robinson, Kelly Ross and Michael St. John. Thom Christopher Warren will direct the performance.
Tickets begin at $50 and can be purchased at somaforhaiti.org and sopacnow.org. Top tier tickets, available for $150, include premiere seating in the theater as well as a pre-concert cocktail reception, catered by Haitian-owned restaurant Papillion 25. Sponsors of the event at $250+ will also be treated to a post-event reception with the performers.
Funds raised from the event will be donated to two relief organizations: Partners in Health and The AMHE Foundation of the Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad.
PERFORMERS AND PARTICIPANTS
Jazz pianist and composer Geri Allen was nominated for a Grammy award for her orchestration of Andy Bey's American Song in 2005. She has performed with Jack DeJohnette, Wayne Shorter, Miles Davis, Marianne Faithfull, Bill Cosby, and Me'Shell Ndegeocello, among many others. In 1996, she became the youngest and, to date, the only woman to win the JAZZPAR prize and she is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship. Geri lives in Montclair, and for more information please visit her website, www.geriallen.com.
Shane Bland's credits include the New York City Fringe Festival's How Now, Dow Jones; Andrew Lloyd Webber's Bombay Dreams (Original Broadway Cast, 1st US Tour); Disney's The Lion King (Toronto Company); Disney's Beauty and the Beast (Montreal); and Harold Prince's Show Boat (Canada, 1st US Tour).
A contemporary drummer and aggressive, polyrhythmic stylist, Cecil Brooks III has worked in the New York area with such musicians as Greg Osby, Geri Allen and Lonnie Plaxico. He recorded his debut album as a leader for Muse in 1989, subsequently releasing efforts including Hangin' with Smooth (1990), Neck Peckin' Jammie (1993) and Our Mister Brooks (2000) in addition to session work in both a hard bop and bebop setting. Brooks has worked as producer with such artists as vocalists Gail Allen and Jackie Woods and saxophonist Reggie Wood. Cecil owns the popular jazz club Cecil's in West Orange.
Catherine Brunell, a resident of West Orange, is currently in the Broadway cast of Mary Poppins where she covers the title role of Mary. Other Broadway credits include: Big River (revival with Deaf West Theater), Thoroughly Modern Millie (original cast), Les Miserables (Eponine), and A Tale of Two Cities. Catherine is twice nominated for a Kevin Kline Award for Best Actress for her portrayals of Laurey in Oklahoma and Eliza in My Fair Lady at the St. Louis MUNY.
Kristin Carbone is currently appearing in the Broadway production of Mary Poppins. She was in the 2004 revival of Fiddler on the Roof and the 2002 revival Into The Woods). She has also been in many national tours, including the first national ours of Hal Prince's Show Boat, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and An Evening with Michael Crawford in Concert. Kristin is married to actor Michael St. John.
A native of Newark, New Jersey, Maurice Chestnut was, in 2003, recruited by Savion Glover to join the national touring company of the Tony Award winning Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk. He has continued to work with Savion as a member of his Improvography and Bare Soundz tours, as well as performing in productions such as Classical Savion, Tappin' Into Monk, Invitation To The Dancer and on ABC-TV's Dancing With The Stars. Off-Broadway credits include Shades of Harlem, The Wiz, Bubbling Brown Sugar directed by George Faison at Atlanta's Fox Theater and Can I Hit That. In addition to performing with his own band, he is often invited to perform or tour as a special guest with such prominent jazz musicians as Christian McBride, Cyrus Chestnut and Thelonius Monk III. His high profile engagements have included the JVC Jazz Festival, the Playboy Jazz Festival, The Apollo Theater and Birdland, as well as appearances at Carnegie Hall and throughout Europe with the Geri Allen Trio.
Upon entering Northeastern University, Kenny Davis discovered jazz music, quickly becoming part of the Chicago jazz scene, playing with Von Freedman, Ari Brown and Fred Anderson. Later, he went on to study classical bass with Warren Benfield of the Chicago Symphony and had a number of lessons with Jeffrey Bradetich. In New York, he began appearing with such artists as: Freddie Hubbard, Cassandra Wilson (Abbey Lincoln, Diane Reeves and Art Farmer, while studying music with Ron Carter. Throughout the 90's, Davis toured with such notable jazz artists as Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves and Art Farmer. In 1999, Kenny Davis got the call from Kevin Eubanks, then band leader/music director of The Tonight Show Band. Davis was the bassist of The Tonight Show Band from September,1999 thru March, 2002.
Bradley Dean can be seen every night at Lincoln Center performing alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury in A Little Night Music. Additional credits include Spamalot, Man of La Mancha and The Fantasticks.
Rosena M. Hill Jackson is currently on Broadway in the production of Come Fly Away. She was an original Broadway cast member of Oklahoma and Spamalot. Other Broadway productions include The Color Purple, and Imaginary Friends.
In 1995, Mark Jacoby was nominated for a Tony Award for his portrayal of Gaylord Ravenal in the Broadway hit Show Boat. He is known for his leading roles in Phantom of the Opera and Ragtime and has been seen in numerous other productions, including Grand Hotel, Sweeney Todd and Man of La Mancha.
Melissa Lone is currently performing in the Broadway production of Mary Poppins after spending over a year performing the role of Maggie in the Broadway production of A Chorus Line. She traveled the country for three years in the National Touring Companies of Beauty and the Beast, Mamma Mia! and 42nd Street.
Janelle Anne Robinson can be seen in the Broadway production of Mary Poppins. Her credits include Oklahoma! and the revival of Showboat. She has many Off-Broadway, regional and television credits, and has been Richard Tucker Study Grant and the MacAllister Award.
Kelly Ross can currently be seen playing the zany landlord Harriet Valley in the new comedy web-series Wiener and Wiener (wienerandwiener.com). Kelly has worked in regional theater across the country and was one of eight singers selected to sing in a master class for Mandy Patinkin at the Roundabout Theatre Company.
Michael St. John toured with the Broadway National tour of Les Miserables for four years, where he portrayed the Bishop as well as the role of Thenardier. Most recently he was seen in New York as Lewis in Sherlock Holmes The Early Years. Off-Broadway credits include The Mikado and Pirates Of Penzance.
Maplewood resident Thom Christopher Warren, whose numerous directing credits include Lion King and Babes in Arms, will direct the evening's performances.
About SOMa for Haiti
Following the January 12th earthquake in Haiti, South Orange resident Yasmeen Anderson brought together the talents of her community to create something that would educate and inspire long-term support for Haiti's recovery.
In just two weeks, Anderson enlisted the help of 45 passionate community members, many, like Anderson, with no direct personal connection to Haiti. Along the way, Anderson partnered with Kristin Carbone, a Broadway actress, who was also in the process of developing a Haiti benefit. The two merged their ideas, and the Sing & Swing for Haiti was born.
SOMa for Haiti has partnered with Seton Hall University to enable donors to receive tax deductions for their generous contributions.
About the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) Since 2006, SOPAC has been serving as a premier performing arts center in the region. SOPAC offers innovative artistic and cultural experiences for diverse audiences in an intimate, inviting environment. The multidisciplinary arts center hosts a variety of live performances, community events and education programs for all ages. To further expand its offerings, SOPAC has a partnership with the Juilliard School of Music to present Juilliard @ SOPAC--a series featuring upcoming musicians from the acclaimed conservatory. SOPAC is also a home for Seton Hall University Arts Council's performances, including Classical Concert Series, Jazz N' the Hall performances, and Seton Hall Theatre productions. For more information, visit SOPACnow.org.
About Partners in Health
PIH has been working in Haiti for over 20 years. PIH works to bring modern medical care to poor communities in 12 countries around the world. The work of PIH has three goals: to care for patients, to alleviate the root causes of disease in their communities, and to share lessons learned around the world.
About The Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad
The Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad (AMHE) was founded in August 1972 by a group of Haitian physicians determined to mark their presence as a growing ethnic entity in America; to foster professional alliances; and, to promote the health and interest of the Haitian immigrant community at large. The Foundation's main goal is to raise funds to support and promote the philanthropic endeavors of the Association of Haitian Physicians, striving to enhance the health and welfare of Haitians in the North American Diaspora and in Haiti.
