Lia Chang Photos: Phylicia Rashad, Michael McElroy, Marva Hicks in Broadway Inspirational Voices “Wondrous Grace” Concert at the Central Presbyterian Church in NY

Broadway Inspirational Voices, a popular gospel choir made up of Broadway singers, raised the roof during Wondrous Grace, their “summer celebration of song,” at the Central Presbyterian Church in New York on June 20, 2011. © 2011 Lia Chang

Last night, I sat in a pew between actress Denise Burse (Tyler Perry’s “House of Payne”) and award-winning playwright and actor Daniel Beaty at the Central Presbyterian Church in New York, where we witnessed Broadway Inspirational Voices, a popular gospel choir made up of Broadway singers, raise the roof during Wondrous Grace, their “summer celebration of song.”

Marva Hicks and Phylicia Rashad © 2011 Lia Chang

Marva Hicks, Virginia A. Woodruff, Lisa Lynne Mathis, Bradley Dean, Avis D. Graves, Clarke Thorell, Marcus Paul James, Eliseo Roman, Angela Robinson, John Eric Parker and Bertilla Baker Thompson were among the singers whose divine solo talents were on display in this glorious and inspiring evening of gospel music.

Tony Award winners Phylicia Rashad (A Raisin in the Sun) and Adriane Lenox (Doubt) appeared in the concert, along with Montego Glover from Memphis, and cast members from Broadway shows including The Lion King, The Book of Mormon, Baby It’s You, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Sister Act.

Angela Robinson and Renee Elise Goldsberry Photo credit: © Lia Chang

Below is the lineup of songs sung during the concert.
Act I
“Song of Praise:
“Excellent Lord” Solo: Virgina A. Woodruff
“You Are An Heir”
“I Have Had Singing”
“He Will Answer” Solo: Lisa Lynne Mathis
“I Call You Faithful” Soloists: Marva Hicks, Bradley Dean
“His Blood Still Works” Solo: Avis D. Graves
“Faithful To Believe” Soloists: Clarke Thorell, Marcus Paul James

Act II
“Sung Unto The Lord” Solo: Eliseo Roman
Djeme solo: Clancy
“Ain’ta That Good News”
“I Give You Praise” Solo: Ken Robinson
“Grace” Soloists: Angela Robinson, Lisa Lynne Mathis, John Eric Parker
“I Surrender All” Piano Solo: Joseph Joubert
“I Surrender”
“He’ll Make It All Right” Solo: Bertilla Baker Thompson
“Your Latter Will Be Greater”

Paula Newsome Photo credit: © Lia Chang

Sopranos: Section Leader-Montego Glover, Terry Burrell, Laura Dean, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Celisse Henderson, Kimberly JaJuan, Gerti Lee James, Chelsea Krombach, Tasha Michelle, Paula Newsome, Angela Robinson, Christina Acosta Robinson, Tanesha Gary-Stickney, Nicole Sutherland, Anne Fraser Thomas, Danielle K. Thomas, Robin S. Walker, Schele Williams-Kleinberger, Virginia A. Woodruff

Danielle Lee Greaves Photo credit: © 2011 Lia Chang

Altos: Section Leader-Danielle Chambers, Bertilla Baker Thompson, Angela DeCicco, Eileen Kaden Dean, Aja Graves, Avid D. Graves, Danielle Lee Greaves, Angela Grovey, Marva Hicks, Zonya Johnson, Crystal Joy, Angela Lockett, Lisa Lynne Mathis, Terri O’Neil, Phylicia Rashad, Rema Webb

Kevyn Morrow and Terry Burrell Photo credit: © 2011 Lia Chang

Tenor/Bass: Section Leader-Chris Zelno, Alvin Crawford, Wilson Cruz, Bradley Dean, Wade Elkins, Robert H. Fowler, Marcus Paul James, Miles Johnson, Monroe Kent III, Adriane Lenox, Travis Morin, Kevyn Morrow, Jesse Nager, John Eric Parker, Ken Robinson, Eliseo Roman, Michael James Scott, C.E. Smith, Clarke Thorell

Broadway Inspirational Voices, a popular gospel choir made up of Broadway singers had the standing room only audience on their feet during Wondrous Grace, their “summer celebration of song,” at the Central Presbyterian Church in New York on June 20, 2011. Photo credit: © Lia Chang

Marva Hicks and Michael McElroy, founder and director of Broadway Inspirational Voices, at the Central Presbyterian Church in New York on June 20, 2011. Photo credit: © Lia Chang

Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) is a 501 © not-for-profit organization. With Founder and Director, Tony-nominated actor Michael McElroy (Rent, Big River), the mission of Broadway Inspirational Voices is to raise awareness, provide spiritual support, and to help raise funds for people in need. Founded by McElroy in 1994 as the Broadway Gospel Choir, the group was reincarnated as the Broadway Inspirational Voices in 1999. The multi-ethnic choir of singers, actors and dancers are comprised of some of the top performers on Broadway, in national tours, and regional theatre. BIV uses the power of music in rousing live concerts, benefits, and a dynamic outreach program for children and teens to inspire creativity and promote a message of tolerance, understanding, and respect for cultural diversity through the arts.
http://broadwayinspirationalvoices.com/

Other Articles by Lia Chang
Coming to America through The Angel Island Immigration Station
Photos: Rick Shiomi Checks out Performing Arts Playwrights Series in the Asian American Pacific Islander Collection of Library of Congress; Attends “Asian American Plays for a New Generation” Book Signing in NY
Lia Chang Theater Portfolio at Library of Congress Features Photos of Thom Sesma’s Makeup Transformation as Scar in Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas, Robert Lee and Leon Ko’s Heading East Starring BD Wong, David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish, and Samrat Chakrabarti and Sanjiv Jhaveri’s Bakwas Bumbug!
HHC Art Collection’s “New York City: In FOCUS, Vol.2” Photo Exhibition Opening Reception 6/23, Exhibit dates-6/23-7/14
Marva Hicks and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra light up the Southern Theatre with a “A Night at the Apollo”
Photos: Willie Reale, Frances McDormand, Lewis Black, Bela Fleck, Renee Goldsberry, Duncan Sheik, Lisa Benavides, Abigail Washburn, Tim Blake Nelson at The 52nd Street Project Benefit
House of Payne’s Denise Burse on the 2011 NAACP Image Awards & Season 7; “Shout Out” Episode airs April 20
Ruby Dee, Alicia Keys, Sidney Poitier to be honored at Woodie King, Jr.’s New Federal Theatre’s 40th Anniversary Gala at Edison Ballroom
Photos: David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks, Amanda Peet, Tracee Chimo opening night of Neil LaBute’s The Break of Noon
Photos: Playwright David Henry Hwang in rehearsal at the Goodman Theatre for World Premiere of Chinglish
Samrat Chakrabarti and Sanjiv Jhaveri’s Popera “Bakwas Bumbug” at The Wild Project in NY, June 22-26
Playwright Camille Darby
Project1Voice’s Multiple Staged Readings of Alice Childress’ Trouble in Mind features André De Shields, Peter Coyote, Roger Robinson, Leslie Uggams, LaChanze, John Mahoney, Bill Irwin, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Irma P. Hall on June 20
Photos:Alexander McQueen:Savage Beauty Extends at Met through 8/7, Met Mondays w/ McQueen begin 6/6
Meshach Taylor talks Wigger on Wendy Williams Show
Artwork by Asia Flores on display in Mercy High School Annual Art & Soul Art Exhibition in SF
Photos of AEA’s Asian Heritage Celebration, featuring the Leviathan Lab Asian American Women Writers Workshop
Photos: Samrat Chakrabarti, Soham Mehta and Shiva Shankar Bajpai at the New York Indian Film Festival
Photo & Video Feature: Black Nativity Now
Living Colour NYC Concert Photos
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.

Lia Chang Photo by Brianne Michelle Photography

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.

As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden. Lia currently plays Nurse Lia on “One Life to Live”. She has appeared in Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and “New York Undercover”.

Selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space are in the newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.

Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.

Lia Chang: Falling for Eve Photos: Jose Llana, Stephanie Umoh and the cast

Jose Llana and Stephanie Umoh on the set of Falling for Eve at The York Theatre at St Peter's Church in New York on 8/3/10. Photo by Lia Chang

Last night, at The York Theatre at Saint Peter’s Church in New York, Ragtime‘s Stephanie Umoh joined the delectable cast of Falling for Eve – Jose Llana, Jennifer Blood, Nehal Joshi, Adam Kantor and Sasha Sloan – in her first performance as Eve. Umoh’s transition into this charming new Off-Broadway musical, featuring a book by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe DiPietro, music by Bret Simmons and lyrics by David Howard, was a seamless one, and the cast was treated to a standing ovation from a packed house.

Helmed by Larry Raben, Falling for Eve is a fresh and unconventional retelling of the most famous romance of all time. Llana as the naive and hunky Adam is cast to perfection. Jennifer Blood and Nehal Joshi are hilarious as a pair of wise cracking angels, and a not-so-perfect God is played with style by both Adam Kantor and Sasha Sloan. How gratifying to see this sexy and talented multicultural cast onstage, reflecting what the world really looks like.

Based on David Howard’s play Adam Alone, Falling for Eve offers a second look at the world’s first love story. Creation is going perfectly. Eve, curious about what lies beyond the Garden of Eden, and obsessed with the notion that something is forbidden, bites the infamous apple. Then Adam doesn’t. How exactly they’ll get together to create the human race is anybody’s guess.

The production has music direction by Kim Steiner, musical staging by Lee Martino, scenic design by Beowulf Boritt, costumes by Bobby Pearce and lighting by Herrick Goldman.

Jennifer Blood, Nehal Joshi, Jose Llana, Stephanie Umoh, Sasha Sloan and Adam Kantor on the set of Falling for Eve at The York Theatre at St Peter's Church on 8/3/10 Photo by Lia Chang

Performances for Falling for Eve through August 8, are Wednesday – Saturday at 8pm; Saturday and Sunday at 2:30pm. Tickets are $67.50 and are available online at www.yorktheatre.org, by calling (212) 935-5820, or in person at the York’s box office (Enter on 54th Street, just East of Lexington).

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2011 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachangpr@gmail.com.

Lia Chang Photo by Brianne Michelle Photography

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multimedia journalist.

As a photographer and videographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive and social media presence. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden.

Selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space are in the newly created LIA CHANG THEATER PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.

Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, VIBE, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Broadwayworld.com, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, thelmagazine.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog.

Other Articles by Lia Chang:
A night out with Gordana Rashovich, Flora Goforth in The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore
André De Shields Set for World Premiere of Charles Smith’s The Gospel According to James at Indiana Rep, 3/22-4/10
Photos: De Shields, McClendon, Elisa, Glasco, Nemser, Phillips, Thompson at The Sovereign State of Boogedy Boogedy Reading
Photos of Lion Dancers in Los Angeles Chinatown
Photos: A.B. Cruz III and Lillian Kimura Receive 2011 AALDEF Justice in Action Awards
Photos of Lion Dancers in Los Angeles Chinatown
Photos: Chinese New Year Festival at The Huntington in San Marino
Photos:The Working Theater’s Off-Broadway production of HONEY BROWN EYES by Stefanie Zadravec at The Clurman
Photos: David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks, Amanda Peet,Tracee Chimo opening night of Neil LaBute’s The Break of Noon
André De Shields leads cast of Charles Smith’s Knock Me A Kiss at Abrons Arts Center
STORIES FROM CHINESE AMERICA: The Arthur Dong Collection, Vol. 2 as 4 disc DVD Box Set
Multimedia: Exclusive photos and video of Disney’s The Lion King Las Vegas -In the Makeup Chair with Thom Sesma
Photo Call: BD Wong and the Cast of Heading East at the Asia Society
cllick here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.

Lia Chang: Falling for Eve: Jose Llana’s Adam has a new Eve

Jose Llana stars as Adam in Falling for Eve.

Jose Llana (Spelling Bee, Flower Drum Song), who is currently appearing as Adam in Falling for Eve, a new musical with book by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe DiPietro (Memphis), music by Bret Simmons (“The Megan Mullally Show”) and lyrics by David Howard (Galaxy Quest), has a new Eve, Stephanie Umoh (Ragtime), for the final week of performances at The York Theatre at Saint Peter’s in New York.

The cast of Falling for Eve features Jennifer Blood (Like You Like It at the Gallery Players), Nehal Joshi (Les Miserables), Adam Kantor (Next to Normal, RENT), and Sasha Sloan (Ragtime, The Kennedy Center).

Krystal Joy Brown, who opened the production as “Eve,” has left the production for a new project.

Based on David Howard’s play Adam Alone, Falling for Eve offers a second look at the world’s first love story. Creation is going perfectly. Eve, curious about what lies beyond the Garden of Eden, and obsessed with the notion that something is forbidden, bites the infamous apple. Then Adam doesn’t. How exactly they’ll get together to create the human race is anybody’s guess. Falling for Eve is a fresh and unconventional retelling of the most famous romance of all time, filled with unexpected twists and turns as Eve and Adam realize that “paradise” may not be a place after all.

The production is directed by Larry Raben, with music direction by Kim Steiner, musical staging by Lee Martino, scenic design by Beowulf Boritt, costumes by Bobby Pearce and lighting by Herrick Goldman.

Performances for Falling for Eve through August 8, are Tuesday – Saturday at 8pm; Saturday and & Sunday at 2:30pm. Tickets are $67.50 and are available online at www.yorktheatre.org, by calling (212) 935-5820, or in person at the York’s box office (Enter on 54th Street, just East of Lexington).

All text, graphics, articles & photographs: © 2000-2010 Lia Chang Multimedia. All rights reserved. All materials contained on this site are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of Lia Chang. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. For permission, please contact Lia at liachang@hotmail.com.

Other Articles by Lia Chang:
AsianConnections.com’s Ben Fong-Torres & Suzanne Joe Kai to be honored as Pioneering Journalists by AAJA
Dinah Eng, founder and director of the Executive Leadership Program (ELP) for the Asian American Journalists Association, will step down in August
Christine Toy Johnson, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, Etsu Mineta Masaoka, Roxanna Saberi to be honored by JACL
Fox 5 News NY WNYW-TV’s Ti-Hua Chang Receives AAJA National Journalism Award – story on Asian American Poverty
Ti-Hua Chang reports on poverty among Asian Americans in New York
2009 Asian American Journalists Association Awards
Multimedia: Dinah Eng, Corky Lee, Jeannie Park and Steve Paulus honored by Asian American Journalists Association
Crafting a Career
Andre Dé Shields is having a Devilishly Good Time in Damn Yankees at The John W. Engeman Theater at Northport
Lia Chang as Nurse Lia on One Life to Live
Portrait of Secretary Norman Y. Mineta to Be Presented at the National Portrait Gallery
Making the Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution Bill a Reality
Asian Women Donors Grant $82,000 to NYC Artists and Non-profits Committed to Activism Thru The Arts
Photos by Lia Chang at the Shanghai World Expo 2010’s USA Pavilion, Library of Congress and Hollywood Chinese: The Arthur Dong Collection in L.A.Hollywood Chinese: The Arthur Dong Collection Exhibition at the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles, has been extended through November 7, 2010
Photo Call: BD Wong and the Cast of Heading East at the Asia Society
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.

Photo by Lia Chang

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer and an award-winning multimedia journalist.

As a photographer and videographer, Lia is frequently tapped to collaborate with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden.

Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, VIBE, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog. In August, selections of Lia’s archive of Asian Pacific Americans in the arts, fashion, journalism, politics and space will become part of THE LIA CHANG THEATER PORTFOLIO in the ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN PERFORMING ARTS COLLECTION housed in the Library of Congress Asian Division’s Asian American Pacific Islander Collection.

Lia Chang Multimedia: The 52nd Street Project Benefit Photos: Michael Cerveris, James Monroe Inglehart, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Matthew Morrison, Greg Naughton and Kelli O’Hara

The 52nd Street Project lyricists Brandon Leon, Elizabeth Vasquez, Adnan Ahmed, Melissa Rebolledo and Wendell Jenkins. ©Lia Chang

Rebecca Naomi Jones, who is currently starring in American Idiot on Broadway, with Denise Burse. Photo by Lia Chang

I had a great time at The 52nd Street Project’s Spring Sing Thing: A Garden Variety Benefit at Espace on Monday night, thanks to my hosts Mildred and Borah Walton, whose daughter Denise Burse (House of Payne) invited me to the party. Ms. Burse and her husband Peter Jay Fernandez (FX’s Damages), are among the countless professional theater artists who have mentored and nurtured kids of The 52nd St. Project for almost two decades.

Looking for a way to improve the quality of life for New York’s inner-city children, actor/playwright and 1994 MacArthur Fellow Willie Reale founded The 52nd Street Project in 1981.

Willie Reale, an actor, playwright and 1994 MacArthur Fellow founded The 52nd Street Project in 1981. Photo by Lia Chang

Mr. Reale, an actor, playwright, and company member of the Ensemble Studio Theater (EST), used his company privileges to reach out to the children of the neighborhood by creating theatrical endeavors specifically for them. This was done with the cooperation and support of EST and its across-the-street-neighbor, the Police Athletic League’s Duncan Center. The Project is an independent not-for-profit organization that creates over eighty new plays and serves over 115 children every year.

For 29 years, The Project’s mission has been dedicated to the creation and production of new plays for and by kids between the ages of nine and eighteen that reside in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood in New York City.

Cocktails and dinner were followed by a delightful show, emceed by Martha Plimpton, featuring songs with lyrics written by kids of the Project and music supplied by professional artists.

Martha Plimpton emceed The 52nd Street Project's Spring Sing Thing Benefit at Espace in New York on Monday, May 10, 2010. © Lia Chang

Spring Sing Thing was written by John Sheehy, directed by Jonathan Bernstein, and featured musical direction and piano by Kimberly Grigsby, Thad DeBrock on guitar, Jeff Potter on drums, and backup singers Emma Hunton and Gabriel Violett. With music coordination by Kim D. Sherman, lighting design by Greg MacPherson, sound design by Charles Coe and set design by George Babiak.

Memphis’ star James Monroe Inglehart, who sat at our table, was adorable singing ‘She the Best’ by lyricist Adnan Ahmed, age 10, and composer Brian Lowdermilk (Henry and Mudge).

James Monroe Inglehart is currently appearing on Broadway in Memphis.© Lia Chang

‘Immortal Powers’ with lyrics by Melissa Rebolledo, age 13, was composed and sung by Michael Cerveris (Assassins).

Michael Cerveris © Lia Chang

American Idiot’s star Rebecca Naomi Jones (Passing Strange) rocked ‘To The Beat of New York’ by lyricist Elizabeth Vasquez, age 12, and composer Tom Kitt (Next to Normal).

American Idiot's star Rebecca Naomi Jones © Lia Chang

Glee’s Matthew Morrison, who has charmed Broadway audiences in South Pacific, Hairspray and Light in the Piazza, sang ‘Need U’ by lyricist Wendell Joseph, age 13, and composer Jeanine Tesori (Caroline or Change, Shrek The Musical).

Lyricist Wendell Joseph, age 13 and Glee's Matthew Morrison © Lia Chang

Greg Naughton of the band The Sweet Remains was joined by his wife Kelli O’Hara (South Pacific, Light in the Piazza) to sing ‘Springtime the Joyful Time’ by lyricist Brandon Leon, age 12, which Naughton composed as well.

Greg Naughton and Kelli O’Hara © Lia Chang

Proceeds from Spring Sing Thing will support the project’s original writing, performance and tutoring programs.

The 52nd Street Project now has a home of their own, their very first theater located at 789 Tenth Avenue between 52nd & 53rd Streets, in the Archstone-Clinton development, which is slated to open later this summer. For more information, visit: www.52project.org.

Lia Chang, Matthew Morrison and designer Selena Evans Photo by Robert Evans

Lia Chang is an actor, performance and fine art botanical photographer and an award-winning multimedia journalist. Lia’s portraits and performance photos have appeared in Vanity Fair, Gourmet, German Elle, Women’s Wear Daily, The Paris Review, VIBE, TV Guide, Daily Variety, Interior Design, American Theatre, Life & Style, OUT, New York Magazine, InStyle, Timeout.com, Villagevoice.com, Playbill.com, Theatermania.com, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, USA Today, The Boston Globe, New York Times and Washington Post. A former syndicated arts and entertainment columnist for KYODO News, Lia is the New York Bureau Chief for AsianConnections.com. She writes about culture, style and Asian American issues for a variety of publications and this Backstage Pass with Lia Chang blog. As a photographer, Lia collaborates with artists, organizations and companies in establishing their documentary photo archive. She has been documenting her colleagues and contemporaries in the arts, fashion and journalism since making her stage debut as Liat in the National Tour of South Pacific, with Robert Goulet and Barbara Eden. Her HERRINGBONE Backstage Pass with BD Wong photography exhibition was on view at the McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, N.J. Lia currently plays Nurse Lia on One Life to Live. She has appeared in Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman, As the World Turns and New York Undercover.
Other Articles by this Author
Michael Cerveris, Matthew Morrison and Kelli O’Hara Lend Vocal Talents for 52nd St. Project Benefit
Peter Jay Fernandez and Jane Summerhays in star in Mr. Lincoln at New York Historical Society
Angela’s Mixtape Opening Night
Zooman and The Sign Opening Night Party
Peter Jay Fernandez and Laura Heisler Star in Too Much Memory
BD Wong to Star in Asia Society Benefit Concert of Heading East, May 24-26
Achieving the American Dream, Professional Charmer Andre De Shields Sees Theater is a Way to Life
Multimedia: Yellow Face Reading and Book Signing with David Henry Hwang, Kathryn Layng, Francis Jue and Special Guest Edward Albee
Multimedia: NAATCO’s LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION! with special guest Terrence McNally
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Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.

Lia Chang: Michael Cerveris, Matthew Morrison and Kelli O’Hara Lend Vocal Talents for 52nd Street Project’s 2010 Benefit on 5/10

Peter Jay Fernandez and his wife Denise Burse have had a special place in their hearts for the kids of The 52nd St. Project for almost two decades. Photo by Lia Chang

I’ve been invited to The 52nd Street Project’s Spring Sing Thing: A Garden Variety Benefit at Espace on Monday, May 10, 2010, by my good friend and colleague actress Denise Burse (Angela’s Mixtape, Claretha on Tyler Perry’s House of Payne). For almost two decades, she and her husband Peter Jay Fernandez, who recently appeared in Yussef El Guindi’s Language Rooms at the Wilma Theater, and has a recurring role on FX’s Damages, have volunteered their time and talent as two of the countless professional theater artists who are matched up with kids in a series of unique mentoring programs for The 52nd Street Project. The Project’s mission is dedicated to the creation and production of new plays for and by kids between the ages of nine and eighteen that reside in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood in New York City.

The evening’s festivities will be emceed by Martha Plimpton, and will feature a bouquet of songs with lyrics written by kids of the Project and music supplied by professional artists. Included on the lineup is the work of lyricists Adnan Ahmed, Brandon Leon, Wendell Joseph, Melissa Rebolledo, and Elizabeth Vazquez, and composers Brian Lowdermilk (Henry and Mudge), Jeanine Tesori (Caroline or Change, Shrek The Musical) and Tom Kitt (Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize for Next to Normal).

Singers Michael Cerveris (Tony for Assassins), Matthew Morrison (Glee), James Monroe Iglehart (currently on Broadway in Memphis), Rebecca Naomi Jones (Passing Strange, American Idiot), Kelli O’Hara (South Pacific, Light in the Piazza) and Greg Naughton (of the band The Sweet Remains) will lend their vocal talents.

Jonathan Bernstein is the Director and Kimberly Grigsby is the Music Director. The band will include Grigsby on keyboards and Jeff Potter on drums.

The Project was founded in 1981 by actor/playwright and 1994 MacArthur Fellow Willie Reale in response to a deepening need to improve the quality of life for New York’s inner-city children. Mr. Reale, an actor, playwright, and company member of the Ensemble Studio Theater (EST), used his company privileges to reach out to the children of the neighborhood by creating theatrical endeavors specifically for them. This was done with the cooperation and support of EST and its across-the-street-neighbor, the Police Athletic League’s Duncan Center. The Project is now an independent not-for-profit organization that creates over eighty new plays and serves over 115 children every year.

The 52nd Street Project recently opened a theater—the first of their own—at 789 Tenth Avenue between 52nd & 53rd Streets, in the Archstone-Clinton development. The facility’s opening is slated for late summer of this year.

The evening will begin at 7 pm with cocktails followed by dinner and the show. Tickets are $250 and $500 and can be reserved by calling 212-333-5252 x16. For further information, visit: www.52project.org.

For further information, contact John Sheehy, Director of Development at The 52nd Street Project at (212) 333-5252 or sheehy@52project.org. Contributions are tax deductible except for $150 per ticket. All ticket orders will be held at the door. Proceeds from Spring Sing Thing will support the project’s original writing, performance and tutoring programs.

Espace
635 West 42nd St. btwn 11th & 12th Aves)
New York

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Photos: A.B. Cruz III and Lillian Kimura Receive 2011 AALDEF Justice in Action Awards
Spend Valentine’s Day with André De Shields in The Sovereign State of Boogedy Boogedy at the Abingdon Theatre
Photos of Lion Dancers in Los Angeles Chinatown
Photos: Chinese New Year Festival at The Huntington in San Marino
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Snow in New York City’s Central Park
Kevin Anderson, Catherine Dent, Tracee Chimo, John Earl Jelks in Neil La Bute’s The Break of Noon at the Geffen 1/25-3/6
Photos: David Duchovny, John Earl Jelks, Amanda Peet,Tracee Chimo opening night of Neil LaBute’s The Break of Noon
A.B. Cruz III of Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., Lillian Kimura To Receive 2011 Justice in Action Awards
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Andy Warhol, Romare Bearden, Alexander Calder, Lia Chang in Art & Healing Exhibit at Snug Harbor on SI
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Multimedia: Promises, Promises’ Stars Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes at Lord & Taylor Fifth Ave
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Peter Jay Fernandez and Laura Heisler Star in Too Much Memory
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Multimedia: NAATCO’s LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION! with special guest Terrence McNally
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive.