Faith Prince, Bonnie Milligan, Janet Dacal, Marla Louissaint, And Jessica Hendy To Perform At "Harmony" A Gala To Benefit New York City Gay Men's Chorus

NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Apple Performing Arts, the home of New York City Gay Men's Chorus and Youth Pride Chorus, today announced that HARMONY | Ladies of Broadway will feature Faith Prince, Bonnie Milligan, Janet Dacal, Marla Louissaint, and Jessica Hendy performing live at the annual gala fundraiser on February 14 at Current, Pier 59.

"Ladies of Broadway" celebrates five of Broadway's finest female vocalists as they sing leading-lady favorites "The Great White Way."  Featuring Broadway singers Jessica Hendy (Cats, Aida, Amour), Bonnie Milligan (Head over Heels), Janet Dacal (Prince of Broadway, Wonderland, In the Heights), Marla Louissaint (Beautiful), and Tony Award Winner Faith Prince (Guys & Dolls, Disaster, The Little Mermaid, Bells Are Ringing, Nick & Nora, Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Little Me, The Dead, and Noises Off). Harmony on Valentine's Day is certain to be a "can't miss" event for all musical theatre lovers. 

The gala will feature

• live and silent auctions
• Performances by the Ladies of Broadway:
• Faith Prince, Bonnie Milligan, Janet Dacal, Marla Louissaint, and Jessica Hendy

Harmony will be held at Current, Pier 59; tickets are on sale now

• 6:00pm – doors open, red carpet arrivals, cocktails & silent auction
• 7:45pm – dinner by Abigail Kirsch, award ceremony, live auction & raffle, and entertainment by the Ladies of Broadway

"What better way to celebrate the amazing performances, charity work, school programs, and championing of LGBTQ rights that NYCGMC and YPC has done for close to 40 years than to be serenaded by these Ladies of Broadway on Valentine's Day," said Damian Kington, Chair of Big Apple Performing Arts.  "HARMONY is our most important fundraising event of the year raising essential money for this organization to continue to serve the LGBTQ community while entertaining the world"

"We are so excited to have the enormously talented 'Ladies of Broadway' join us for HARMONY this year," said Skie Ocasio, Director of HARMONY.  "There will be so much talent in the room with Faith, Jessica, Bonnie, Janet, and Marla that anyone in attendance will be certain to jump out of their chairs to cheer and dance throughout the night!" 

Tickets for HARMONY are now on sale at nycgmc.org and all proceeds go toward NYCGMC and YPC.  Tickets start at $395, including a Sweetheart Table option for two for $1,500 and tables that range from $5,000 - $10,000.  Auction items are available for view and bidding here. 

HARMONY's host committee is made up of Orfeh & Andy Karl, James D. Matte & J. Christopher Beck, Kevin Sterns & Chuck Skowron, Damian Kington, and Skie Ocasio & Benjamin Houghton.

HARMONY 2018's corporate sponsors are JetBlue, Luxury Attaché, and Tito's Handmade Vodka. 

About Faith Prince

Faith Prince has been dazzling Broadway audiences since winning the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for her performance as "Ms. Adelaide" in Guys and Dolls. As one of Broadway's best loved leading ladies, Faith most recently starred on Broadway in Disaster! the musical for which she received rave reviews. In a role she was born to play, she also starred as the scheming, irascible "Miss Hannigan" in the Broadway revival of Annie. In 2008, she was nominated for Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for A Catered Affair. Other Broadway credits include The Little Mermaid, Bells Are Ringing (Tony, DD, OCC noms), Nick & Nora (OCC Award), Jerome Robbins' Broadway (Tony, DD noms), Little Me, The Dead, and Noises Off. She also starred in the world premiere of Terrence McNally's Unusual Acts of Devotion and in the national tour of the Broadway hit Billy Elliot. Chicago audiences had the opportunity to see Faith on stage in the iconic role of "Brenda" in the new musical version of the hit movie First Wives Club.

Faith currently recurs on the ABC hit series Modern Family. She also recurred as Joey Lawrence's mother on ABC Family's long running series Melissa & Joey and wrapped her 5-season run as Brooke Elliott's mother on Lifetime's popular series Drop Dead Diva. She was a series regular on Showtime's Huff starring as "Kelly Knippers," the love interest of Oliver Platt, and recurred for five seasons on Spin City. Other television credits include Scream Queens, Galavant, Angel from Hell, A Gifted Man, Happy Endings, Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, CSI, Faith, House, Medium, Sweet Potato Queens, Monk, Now and Again, Welcome To New York and Law and Order. Film credits include Our Very Own, Picture Perfect, Dave, and My Father the Hero. Faith recently travelled to Australia for a concert tour with her Annie co-star Anthony Warlow, which included performances at the Sydney Opera House and the Adelaide Music Festival. She works often with the Boston Pops, Utah Symphony, Cincinnati Pops, and Philly Pops, and starred in the Orlando Philharmonic concert version of Sweeney Todd. Faith toured her original show Moving On in Australia to rave reviews, and also toured in Over the Rainbow, a concert celebrating the centennial of Harold Arlen. Faith's new album, Total Faith, was recorded at the Royal Room in the Colony Hotel in Palm Beach and was recently released by Broadway Records. Her award-winning album, A Leap of Faith, was recorded at Joe's Pub.

About Jessica Hendy

Ms. Hendy most recently closed the Broadway revival of CATS. She is the only person who holds the unique distinction as being a member of the Broadway revival cast as well as a member of the final cast in the first Broadway production of CATS. Ms. Hendy made her Broadway debut as Grizabella on the Winter Garden stage in New York City.  Her other Broadway credits include AIDA (Amneris), and AMOUR. She made her Radio City Music Hall debut in The New York Spring Spectacular, alongside the world famous ROCKETTES. Ms. Hendy has toured Nationally and in Canada with CATS (Grizabella), and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Narrator). While in New York, she received rave reviews for her one-woman Cabaret, A Life To Call Your Own, and a Bistro Award for the review Get Your Tickets Now. NYC Pre Broadway workshops include Dance of the Vampires, AIDA, and The Molly Maguires. She can be heard on many demo recording of new musicals and compilation CD's. She is regular guest singer at the world-famous Feinstein's 54 Below in New York, which is a premier Supper Club housed in the old Studio 54. She played Diana Goodman in the regional premier for the Pulitzer Prize winning musical Next To Normal, at The Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, which earned her an ACCLAIM Award. She has had the pleasure to work at several different theatres around the country, including Pittsburgh CLO, and North Shore Music Theatre in Miss Saigon (Ellen), and Helen Hayes Perf Arts Center in Songs For A New World, with Jason Robert Brown. As well as Gateway Playhouse in CATS (Grizabella), with original cast member Ken Page. A Native of Cincinnati Ohio, Ms. Hendy attended the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati for Musical Theatre. Her countless concert appearances, include Cincinnati Pops, Modesto Symphony, Long Beach Symphony, Ft Worth Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, Kentucky Symphony, Phoenix Symphony Orchestra, Princeton Symphony Orchestra and Calgary Philharmonic. She has traveled with composer, Stephen Schwartz for concerts of his music to sing his song, DEFYING GRAVITY, from his Mega Hit Broadway Musical WICKED. She also has traveled the country with the concert "Broadway Today"," Blockbuster Broadway" and "Cinema Toast" and Cirque Musica's Holiday show. Ms Hendy currently lives in New York City. www.Jesshendy.com

About Bonnie Milligan

Bonnie Milligan just completed a critically acclaimed run making her Broadway debut starring in Head Over Heels. Previous to HOH, Bonnie was seen playing the original role of Pat in the first national tour of Kinky Boots and Off-Broadway in God Bless You, Mr Rosewater (Encores!), Gigantic (Vineyard), Jasper in Deadland (Prospect). Television credits include the recurring role of Kathryn on Search Party (TBS), Happy!  (Sci Fi) and the Golden Globe nominated limited series Escape at Dannemora directed by Ben Stiller (Showtime).  Twitter: @beltingbonnie Instagram @beltingbons

About Janet Dacal

Janet Dacal most recently wrapped a production of Man of La Mancha where she starred as Aldonza.  Previous to that she co-starred alongside Harry Connick, Jr. in the Paper Mill Playhouse production of The Sting.  On Broadway, Janet starred in Hal Prince's, Prince of Broadway, where she played multiple roles including Evita, Aurora (Kiss of A Spider Woman) and Sydney (It's a Bird, It's A Plane...).  She created the role of Alice in Frank Wildhorn's, Wonderland. She played the lead, Nina Rosario, in the Tony Award-winning Musical In the Heights, after originating the role of Carla in the Off-Broadway and Broadway productions for which she received a Drama Desk Award. Additional favorite theatrical roles include Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie, Kathy in The Last Five Years and Maria Mirelli in Lend Me A Tenor. Janet has toured the world as a symphony concert vocalist with New York Pops conductor, Steven Reinike. Follow her @janetdacal. 

About Marla Louissaint

Marla Louissaint is a first-generation Haitian student who just returned to finish her computer science degree at Fordham after a year on the road with Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. TV: Seven Seconds (Netflix). Theater: God Bless You Mr. Rosewater (Encores), Jamboree! with Sutton Foster and Jonathan Groff (Encores). She is also a proud winner of the 2015 Jimmy Award for Best Actress.

About the New York City Gay Men's Chorus

New York City Gay Men's Chorus is a world-class, world-renowned New York institution and a pioneering voice for the LGBTQ community. NYCGMC is comprised of more than 250 talented singers of various ages, backgrounds, and experiences. Together, we produce a vibrant sound and energy that audiences can feel and connect with. Through the power of this sound, and our spectacular performances, we are fearless champions for love, equality, and acceptance. Founded in 1980, NYCGMC has formed a strong bond with devoted followers and continues to make lasting connections with new and diverse audiences. We sing in every style from classical to pop, Broadway to gospel, and from cultures all over the world. As artists, we listen to the changing world around us and transform what we hear into music. We sing to challenge perceptions of the LGBTQ community, to combat fear and hatred, encourage compassion and human connection, and to thrill with the superb quality of our sound. Through our music, audiences mourn losses, cheer victories, find unconditional acceptance, and celebrate life. We perform in a variety of settings, including special, private, and corporate events, concerts, television appearances, festivals, Broadway/theatre productions, conferences, weddings, parties, fundraisers, and community events. nycgmc.org 

About the Youth Pride Chorus

New York City's Youth Pride Chorus harnesses the power of the performing arts to engage lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and straight young people ages 13-22 as agents of change. YPC fights homophobia, bullying, and all forms of hate by boldly asserting—through music—the joy, diversity, strength, and pride of today's youth. YPC singers discover their own power by empowering others in schools, online, and in the broader community through electrifying, high caliber singing and performances. youthpridechorus.org

About Big Apple Performing Arts

Big Apple Performing Arts is the non-profit management company for the New York City Gay Men's Chorus and Youth Pride Chorus. With over thirty years of history, innovative programs, and service to the LGBTQ community, Big Apple Performing Arts is renowned for producing legendary performances, commissioning new works, and taking a leading role in the movement for social justice. From Carnegie Hall to City Hall, from the AIDS crisis to the struggle for marriage equality, as well as today's gender and identity politics, the choruses of BAPA have been leaders and activists in the New York City community since 1980.

Here are links for more information on the following:
NYCGMC

For more information, contact: 
TJ Witham 
+1 646 369 4592
[email protected]

SOURCE The New York City Gay Men's Chorus

Related Links

http://www.nycgmc.org