December 14, 2015
One-Night Only Benefit of 'Christmas Eve's Holiday Hunkfest' Benefits BC/EFA
EDGE READ TIME: 3 MIN.
The incomparable Ann Harada will once again spread holiday spirit as the hysterical, sincere yet highly inappropriate therapist from "Avenue Q" as "Christmas Eve's Holiday Hunkfest" (#hunkfest) welcomes a bevy of Broadway men. The one-night-only concert on Monday, December 14, is produced by and benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
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Christmas Eve, played by Harada, will be joined by some of Broadway's hunkiest men to reinterpret everything you know about Broadway romance in Christmas Eve's shamelessly unapologetic exploration of the modern songbook. Expect singing, dancing and laughter without a single drop of political correctness.
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The list of Broadway's talented hunks set to join Harada includes John Bolton ("Dames at Sea"), Joe Carroll ("Cinderella"), Jordan Gelber ("Avenue Q"), Adam Jacobs ("Aladdin"), Telly Leung ("Allegiance"), Jose Llana ("The King and I"), Joel Perez ("Fun Home"), Tony Award winner Michael Rupert ("On the Town"), Robert Sella ("Sylvia"), Ryan Silverman ("Side Show") and Howie Michael Smith ("Avenue Q"), with more to be announced.
Dan Horn and Kevin Munhall, both from "Allegiance," will serve as Christmas Eve's dancers. Special guests subject to change.
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"Christmas Eve's Holiday Hunkfest" is directed by Alan Muraoka with choreography by Darren Lee and music direction by Gary Adler. The show was conceived and written by Adler, Harada and Muraoka.
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Harada originated the role of Christmas Eve in both the Broadway and London productions of the Tony Award-winning "Avenue Q." Most recently, she appeared in the Off-Broadway superhero show "Brooklynite." Harada also was previously featured on Broadway in "Cinderella," "9 to 5," "Les Mis�rables," "Seussical The Musical" and "M. Butterfly," in the Off-Broadway hit "Love, Loss and What I Wore" and in George Street Playhouse's production of "God of Carnage."
She also was featured in The Actors Fund productions of "Chess" and "Hair." Her solo concert was featured in Lincoln Center's American Songbook series in 2014. Her recent TV work includes "Redheads Anonymous," Linda the stage manager on "Smash," "Admission," "It Could Be Worst," "30 Rock," "The Big C," "Lipstick Jungle," "Rescue Me" and "The Electric Company."
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Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources, and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 BC/EFA has raised more than $285 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.
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Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is the major supporter of the social service programs at The Actors Fund, including the HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative and the Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic. Broadway Cares also awards annual grants to more than 450 AIDS and family service organizations in all 50 states.
Christmas Eve's Holiday Hunkfest will be held at 7 p.m. on Dec. 14 at The Cutting Room, 44 East 32nd Street in New York City. Tickets, which range from $30-$75, are on sale now at broadwaycares.org.
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