The Lion Sings Tonight
Featuring cast members of DISNEY'S THE LION KING
Atlanta Benefit Press Kit
Press Contacts
- Kevin Ireland, theBestArts.com (Local Benefit Presenter)
678-637-4301 e-mail:
- Jerry Henderson, Joining Hearts – Marketing Manager
404-216-8794 email:
- Jennifer Walker, Broadway in Atlanta – BRAVE Public Relations
404-233-3993 e-mail:
Public Facebook event invite
Please post this event invite on your FB wall. If you click "Join" or "Maybe" on the invite, you'll see a new "Invite Friends" button as well.
https://www.facebook.com/events/445214045610422/
Press Release
Read or print the original event Press Release here.
Story Ideas
Broadway Sings in Atlanta
This is the fifth in a series of benefits with Broadway national touring companies held in Atlanta since 2010. They include:
- Disney's The Lion King - April 21, 2014. We expect to raise over $25,000 - and perhaps $40,000 or more for Joining Hearts and BC/EFA.
- The Book of Mormon - February 3, 2014. Cancelled due to major ice storm, but still raised $31,450 for Open Hand and BC/EFA.
- Wicked - September 26, 2011. Raised $33,000 for Joining Hearts and BC/EFA.
- Phantom of the Opera - July 12, 2010. Raised $4,500 for Synchronicity Theatre.
- Mary Poppins - May 10, 2010. Raised $2,500 for Jerusalem House. Hey, you gotta start somewhere.
Georgia Cast Connections
Two members of our benefit company have significant Georgia connections:
Nia Holloway
Nia Holloway plays the featured role of Nala in Disney's The Lion King. She's a graduate of Norcross High School and has performed the
national anthem for the Atlanta Dream, the Gwinnett Braves and the Clark Atlanta Panthers.
Nia has twice won the "Stars of Tomorrow" competition at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. As an actress, vocalist and dancer,
she's appeared on the Hub Network show Majors and Minors and at various other venues as a live performer.
http://www.iamniaholloway.com/
Russell Joel Brown
Russell Joel Brown is a graduate of Aquinas High School in Augusta, GA as well as Atlanta's Morehouse University. He joined The Lion King tour in 2005,
where he's a member of the ensemble and understudy for the role of Mufasa.
His professional credits include Smokey Joe’s Cafe (First National Tour and Japan companies), The Scarlet Pimpernel (First National Tour),
The Lion King (Cheetah Tour, Mexico and Taiwan companies); Big River (Goodspeed Theatre; Winner, Best Actor from Connecticut Critics Circle).
Benefit Set List
While our set list is subject to change, we expect that the benefit will include about 23 numbers and (including medleys) 27 different songs. All of the songs
will be favorite hits from the 60s, and more than half of them were included on the Rolling Stones list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time -
including two of the top ten. Our cast will be singing songs made famous by:
- Aretha Franklin
- Marvin Gaye
- Gladys Knight
- The Supremes
- The Rolling Stones
- Smokey Robinson and The Miracles
- The Temptations
- Ike and Tina Turner
- Blood Sweat and Tears
- The Shirelles
- Bobby Darin
- Nancy Sinatra
- The Jackson Five
- ...and more
Benefit Cast List
We expect 27 cast members to perform a total of about 59 times in our 23 numbers (subject to minor changes.)
Bios and headshots of most all of the benefit cast members are available at
http://www.lionking.com/cast/touring_cast. They are:
- Bravita Threatt
- Deidre Lang
- Dionne Vernon
- Erynn Marie Dickerson
- Farah Lopez
- Frank Wright II
- James Johnson
- Jelani Remy
- Jordan A. Hall
- L Steven Taylor
- Leroy Church
- Lori Betz
- Matthew S. Morgan
- Michael Hollick
- Nathaniel Logan McIntyre
- Nia Holloway
- Nick Cordileone
- Nya Simone Carter
- Rashada Dawan
- Robb Sapp
- Russell Joel Brown
- Sean Sullivan
- Sharron Lynn Williams
- Thembelihle Cele
- Tonoccus McClain
- Tyrah Skye Odoms
- Blaine Krauss
Benefit Crew
The show is produced by Kevin Ireland (theBestArts.com) and Ben Lipitz (DISNEY'S THE LION KING), and directed by Jelani Remy (DISNEY'S THE LION KING).
Band members are:
- Jo Lynn Burks: Piano & Musical Director
- Andy Martin: Bass
- Jody Worrell: Guitar
- Paul Fallat: Drums
- Rod Kelley: Keyboards/Synthesizer
Buy Tickets
Tickets are on sale now at
http://www.thebestarts.com/lionking/.
Sponsorships
We offer a variety of corporate and individual sponsorships.
Event Images
The following images are available for use online or in print. In most cases, the best way to use these is to right-click on the link and save them to your computer.
Mac users have a slightly different but similar procedure.
Event Poster
Beneficiaries
Joining Hearts - 50%
Joining Hearts is an IRS 501(c)3
all-volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to providing housing support to people living with HIV and AIDS in Atlanta.
2013-2014 is our 27th fundraising year committed to this cause. While the events we produce have evolved over the years, one aspect has never changed:
100% of every dollar raised through ticket sales is donated to our non-profit beneficiaries:
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS - 50%
BC/EFA is a primary beneficiary of the event.
BC/EFA is one of the nation’s leading industry-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations.
By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community,
BC/EFA has raised over $250 million since 1988 for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.
BC/EFA is the major supporter of seven programs at The Actors Fund, including The HIV/AIDS Initiative,
The Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative, The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic, The Actors Fund Work Program,
The Dancers’ Resource, The Stage Managers’ Project and three supportive housing residences.
Over half of BC/EFA's annual grants are directed to more than 400 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide each year.
BC/EFA will donate a portion of their proceeds from this event to:
BC/EFA also funds many other social service organizations across Georgia.
About theBestArts.com
Since 2007, theBestArts has worked to provide more visibility to rising musical theatre singers, dancers and songwriters through our non-commercial website, facebook page,
college showcase concerts in New York City and our Broadway Tour benefits in Atlanta. All services to produce these events are donated.
Please follow us at http://www.facebook.com/theBestArts and our website at
http://www.theBestArts.com/.
Read about our benefit with the Phantom of the Opera cast in the Atlanta-Journal constitution at
http://www.accessatlanta.com/atlanta-events/phantom-cast-sings-for-569632.html.
The AJC also featured a slideshow from the event at
http://projects.accessatlanta.com/gallery/view/events/atlanta-cabaret-photos/.