Conceived and produced by Drama Desk-nominated orchestrator Lynne Shankel (Cry-Baby, Altar Boyz), the concert features Tony Award nominee Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, "Smash"), Spring Awakening actress Lauren Pritchard (LOLO), Lindsay Mendez (Wicked, Godspell, Everyday Rapture), Derek Klena (The Bridges of Madison County, Wicked, Carrie, Dogfight), Sierra Boggess (Love Never Dies, Master Class, The Little Mermaid), Chester Gregory (Sister Act, Dreamgirls, Hairspray), Andrew Call (American Idiot, Altar Boyz), David Josefsberg (Honeymoon In Vegas, The Wedding Singer, Altar Boyz), Telly Leung (Godspell, "Glee"), recording artist Anya Singleton, Kenita Miller (Merrily We Roll Along, Ragtime), Kay Trinidad (The Little Mermaid, Bare), Sally Wilfert (Make Me A Song, Assassins, Tom Sawyer) and more.
Directed by Stafford Arima (Bare: The Musical, Carrie, Allegiance), audiences can expect "fresh, original approaches — pop, soul, R&B, rock and more — to your favorite seasonal numbers, many of them captured on the Sh-KBoom/Ghostlight album 'New York City Christmas,' available for purchase at the concert."
Also appearing are musicians Shankel (on piano), Joe Mowatt (drums/percussion), Randy Landau (bass), Peter Calo and Michael Aarons (guitars), Summer Boggess (cello), Max Mosten (violin), Barry Danielian (trumpet) and Scott Kreitzer and Cliff Lyons (saxophones).
Tickets are $100 each for premium seats and $75 each for general seating. All proceeds from tickets to the show and album sales go to supporting ASTEP's mission to provide artists with opportunities to share their passion with underserved kids, awakening their imaginations, fostering critical thinking and helping them break the cycle of poverty.
In addition to "New York City Christmas: A Benefit Album for ASTEP," two new releases are available for purchase: "I Got All I Need (This Christmas)," an original song written by Shankel and Jon Hartmere sung by Mendez and Klena; and a hip-hop version of "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" (music by Shankel), sung by Aurelia Williams (Sistas, The Musical; Paper Mill's Once On This Island), Kenita Miller and Kay Trinidad, based on the traditional poem. The two songs were recorded on Yellow Sound Label and are available on iTunes and wherever digital music is sold. All proceeds go to benefit ASTEP. Joe's Pub is located at 425 Lafayette Street. For more information about ASTEP visit ASTEP.org. For tickets, click here.
