Darren Criss and More Join “From Broadway with Love” Benefit at Dr. Phillips Center

Darren Criss and More Join "From Broadway with Love" Benefit at Dr. Phillips Center 1 From Broadway with Love: A Benefit Concert for Orlando announces new additions to the sold-out concert line-up. The benefit concert will take place on July 25, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

From Broadway with Love: A Benefit Concert for Orlando announces new additions to the sold-out concert line-up. The benefit concert will take place on July 25, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

Joining the previously announced cast of Broadway favorites are Darren Criss (Emmy®-nominee, Broadway’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch, “Glee”), Lila Crawford (Annie, Disney’s “Into the Woods,”), Wilson Cruz (Rent, “My So-Called Life”), and Priscilla Lopez (created the role of “Diana Morales” in the original company of A Chorus Line). The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, who will donate their performances as one of the sponsors of the evening, will accompany the performers.

Net proceeds from the concert evening and upcoming CD/DVD release of the event will go to the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida, Hope and Help Center and Zebra Coalition.

Additionally, more than 50 online auction items, including autographed posters and programs, are available to benefit the evening’s charitable partners. Three one-of-a-kind items will also be featured:

  • A solo onstage seat while Darren Criss performs his show-stopping number, “Sugar Daddy” from Hedwig and the Angry Inch
  • A Hamilton package, including two tickets to the history-making production, a meet-and-greet with the cast, and a pre-show dinner with Ron Chernow (author of the book, “Alexander Hamilton”)
  • A commemorative painting of all performers who took part in the concert, done by New York-based artist Geoffrey Doig-Marx.

These items and more are open for bid at qtego.net/qlink/broadwaylove.

As previously announced, From Broadway with Love: A Benefit Concert for Orlando will also feature appearances by Chita Rivera (two-time Tony® Award winner), Norbert Leo Butz (two-time Tony Award winner), Kelli O’Hara (Tony Award winner), Jessie Mueller (Tony Award winner,currently in Waitress), Brian Stokes Mitchell (Tony Award Winner, currently in Shuffle Along),Carmen Cusack (Bright Star), Andrea McArdle (the original “Annie”), Lillias White (Tony Award winner), Liz Callaway (Miss Saigon), Josh Henry (Shuffle Along), Keala Settle (Waitress), Anika Larsen (recently seen in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Justin Sargent (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark), Carrie Manolakos (Mamma Mia!), as well as SiriusXM Broadway hosts Seth Rudetskyand Christine Pedi. Michael J. Moritz, Jr. (Tony Award Nominee) will serve as Music Director.

The Orlando benefit concert is co-produced by Imagine Orlando, LLC (comprised of Tony Award winner Kenny Howard of Florida Theatrical Association, Joyce Arbucias of The Imagination House, Andrea Canny of PerformerStuff.com, Chris Yakubchik of Forster Boughman and Lefkowitz), Seth Rudetsky, James Wesley, Michael J. Moritz, Jr. and Broadway Records (Van Dean, Tony Award-winning/Grammy-nominated producer/co-conceiver of the first From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert for Sandy Hook).

From Broadway with Love: A Benefit Concert for Orlando is created by Seth Rudetsky, Kenny Howard and James Wesley; directed by Kenny Howard; written by Michael Wanzie with musical direction by Michael J. Moritz, Jr.

Many of the artists participating in From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert for Orlandogathered at Avator Studios on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in New York City for a benefit recording of the iconic 1965 song “What the World Needs Now is Love” as part of the Broadway for Orlando charitable initiative. The record reached No. 1 on the iTunes song chart in its first week and broke into the Billboard Top 100 with no commercial radio play.

For more information, visit www.frombroadwaywithlove.org or www.drphillipscenter.org.

#BroadwayforOrlando #LoveisLove

About the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization operating the state-of-the-art performing arts center in downtown Orlando, Florida. With its opening in November 2014, the performing arts center launched its vision of Arts for Every Life by being a gathering place for creativity and discovery; a vibrant urban destination where artists, audiences and students come to experience, explore and learn.  The two-block community destination features the 2,700-seat Walt Disney Theater, 300-seat Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, Seneff Arts Plaza, Dr. Phillips Center Florida Hospital School of the Arts, the DeVos Family Room, and other event rental spaces.  Future expansion includes Steinmetz Hall, a 1,700-seat acoustical theater, along with rehearsal, classroom, office space and commercial development spaces.  The Dr. Phillips Center is a public-private collaboration with the City of Orlando, Orange County, the State of Florida and generous donors. For more information please visit drphillipscenter.org.