MusiKids CT will present "Kathy Brier & Friends" at Wagner College's Main Stage Theater on Sunday, May 6 at 7 p.m. The concert will star Emmy-nominated actress and Wagner alum Kathy Brier (also of Broadway’s “Hairspray”). The evening will also feature Kate Pazakis (“Newsical,” “The Sexless Years’), Bistro Award-winner Anne Steele, Colin Sheehan (“Les Miserables,” “The Rosie O’Donnell Show”), and the Wagner College Student Ensemble.
MusiKids CT Inc. is a nonprofit children’s arts-in-education organization that was established in 2003 by Colin Sheehan. MusiKids CT’s goal is to support the nurturing of musically talented students in the fourth through twelfth grades by providing musical instruments, private lessons, camps, etc. to disadvantaged and diversely talented children with special needs. Another key component to the MusiKids CT program is bringing performing arts events to the community to further stimulate and enrich children’s lives. All of the money raised from the May 6 event at Wagner College will go directly to MusiKids CT Inc., a nonprofit (501)(c)(3) charity.
“Kathy Brier and Friends” will include an evening of Broadway songs and Brier’s latest CD, “Heartbreaker” (released last June on Little Rock Records). Brier can be seen as Marcie Walsh on ABC’s “One Life To Live,” for which she received a 2004 Supporting Actress Emmy nomination. She can also be heard as the voice of Babalulu the clown on “Jo Jo’s Circus” (Disney Playhouse Channel) and as the voice of Rosamond on the new animated series “Nate The Great,” slated to air on PBS in the fall of 2008. She played Tracy Turnblad in “Hairspray” opposite Harvey Fierstein, and she originated the role of Ron/Maggie in Off Broadway’s “Bat Boy: The Musical.” Other NY stage credits include the Actor’s Fund Benefit Concert of “Hair,” “The Prince and the Pauper” at the Lambs, O’Casey’s “Knock” at the Judith Anderson, “Tango Ballad” at the Actor’s Studio and “A Broadway Diva Christmas” at the Julia Miles Theatre. Regional credits include “Funny Girl,” “I Ought to Be in Pictures,” “Grease” and “Cinderella.”
Half the money from all sales at this performance of Brier’s CD, “Heartbreaker,” will go to MusiKids CT.
The concert will feature a pre-show performance by Poppi Kramer, who recently became known as the “at-home winner” on Season 3 of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.” Kramer has been doing stand-up comedy in NYC for over 10 years.
The concert will be performed in two acts, and the evening will also include an auction and raffle.
The musical director for the concert will be Brian J. Nash, with production and general management by Ray Wetmore.
Tickets are available for $25 for adults and $15 for students. The MusiKids CT box office line is (718) 420-4136. Visit www.musikidsct.org or www.kathybrier.com for more information.
