By the D23 Team
If you’ve been imagining how wonderful it will be to hear favorite Disney on Broadway songs performed live on stage again, your musical dreams are about to come true. Just announced, Live at The New Am: A Benefit Concert for The Actors Fund will bring together Disney on Broadway stars Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins), Michael James Scott (Aladdin), Kissy Simmons (The Lion King) and Josh Strickland (Tarzan) for what’s sure to be an unforgettable four performances taking place July 22–24 at 7:30 p.m. and July 25 at 2 p.m. The benefit concert celebrates the reopening of Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre and honors the remarkable support that The Actors Fund has provided to members of the entertainment industry throughout the pandemic, and will feature some of the most-beloved hit songs from Disney’s Broadway shows, such as “Beauty and the Beast,” “A Whole New World,” “Circle of Life,” and “Let it Go.”
“For 16 months, New Yorkers have been eager to start going to the theatre again,” said Thomas Schumacher, President & Producer Disney Theatrical Productions. “The Lion King and Aladdin return to Broadway in September, but these four concerts allow us to welcome fans back to Broadway even sooner and give us a chance to raise much-needed funds to support the heroic work being done by the remarkable staff at The Actors Fund. We cannot wait to return to the exhilaration of musical theatre. For the first time in forever, we actually can.”
Additionally, Brown, Scott, Simmons, and Strickland will appear tonight on Stars In The House, Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley’s live talk show that has raised more than $1 million to benefit The Actors Fund. Fans are invited to tune in at StarsInTheHouse.com at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT to watch, donate to The Actors Fund, and possibly have their donations read live on air by the special guests.
During the pandemic, The Actors Fund has provided more than 16,450 entertainment professionals with grants totaling more than $22 million just since the shutdown last March 2020. That represents a remarkable increase of more than 1000% over its typical grant support prior to the pandemic.
“Over the past 25 years, the casts, crews, and staff of Disney Theatrical Productions have been such valued members of The Actors Fund extended family,” said Joseph Benincasa, President and CEO of The Actors Fund. “Their unwavering partnership has helped promote and support our many programs and services that provide vital assistance for our performing arts and entertainment colleagues, who are in need now more than ever. Being part of the reopening celebration of The New Amsterdam Theatre with these special concerts means that even more people will be able to get the help they need.”
Aladdin star Michael James Scott said, “There aren’t enough adjectives to describe how excited and honored I am to get be part of this historic reopening of Broadway and the legendary New Amsterdam Theatre. Bringing this feel-good concert to NYC with some of my closest friends and my DOB family is a dream come true. Did I mention I’m excited?!”
With the health and safety of guests, cast, musicians, and crew a top priority, all guests entering the theatre for Live at the New Am will be required to provide proof of vaccination. Guests under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a vaccinated adult. For more information please visit disneyonbroadway.com/liveatthenewam/healthandsafety/.
Tickets for Live at The New Am: A Benefit Concert for The Actors Fund are on sale now. Tickets ranging in price from $79.50 to $99.50 are available now through Ticketmaster; and a special virtual lottery for $47.50 balcony tickets is available through BroadwayDirect. For more information, to purchase tickets, or to enter the virtual lottery, please visit disneyonbroadway.com/liveatthenewam/.