Rob McClure and Telly Leung Join Only Make Believe Gala
The benefit will also feature Beth Leavel, Orfeh, Montego Glover, Bonnie Milligan, Brad Oscar and more.
Only Make Believe, a non-profit organization that introduces hospitalized children to the magic of theatre, has added more Broadway stars to the lineup for their annual star-studded gala event, set for November 14 at Broadway's St. James Theatre.
Tony nominee Rob McClure and Telly Leung will join Tony nominee Andy Karl, Tony winner Beth Leavel, Bonnie Milligan, Tony nominee Brad Oscar, Kathryn Allison, Tony nominee Montego Glover, Tony nominee Orfeh, Alicia Quarles, Terry Theologides, and Collet Reyes, as well as host John Oliver.
Directed by Tony winner Joe DiPietro and music directed by Steven Jamail, event will include an 80-minute show and a VIP after party at John's of Times Square.
For more information, visit Eventbrite.com.
ONLY MAKE BELIEVE GALA to Feature Rob McClure, Beth Leavel, Bonnie Milligan, and More!
The gala is hosted by John Oliver and features Andy Karl, Beth Leavel, Bonnie Milligan, Brad Oscar, Kathryn Allison, Montego Glover, Orfeh, Alicia Quarles, and more!
Only Make Believe is Back on Broadway for its Annual Gala, hosted by John Oliver of HBO's Emmy Award Winning Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. With appearances by this year's Only Make Believe Founder's Award honoree Terry Theologides, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary at Fannie Mae. Additional appearances by Emmy Award winning journalist Alicia Quarles and Clay Stefanki Award recipient Collet Reyes.
The event will celebrate those who inspire with their dedication to philanthropy and raise funds to support the company's interactive theatre programming in hospitals, care facilities, and schools with special education programs.
Set for Monday November 14th at 7pm at the St. James Theatre, the event will feature Kathryn Allison (Company), Tony Award Nominee Montego Glover (Into the Woods, Memphis), Tony Award Nominee Andy Karl (Into the Woods, Groundhog Day) Tony Award Winner Beth Leavel (The Prom, The Drowsy Chaperone), Telly Leung (Aladdin), Tony Award Nominee Rob McClure ( Little Shop of Horrors, Mrs Doubtfire), Bonnie Milligan (Kimberly Akimbo), Tony Award Nominee Brad Oscar (Little Shop of Horrors, Something Rotten) and Tony Award Nominee Orfeh (Pretty Woman). Directed by Tony award winner Joe DiPietro and music directed by Steven Jamail.
This incredible event will kick off with 80-minutes of spectacle and Broadway talent at the St. James Theatre, followed by a VIP after party at John's of Times Square.
Only Make Believe (OMB) creates interactive theatre with children in hospitals, special education schools, and care facilities. Inspiring joy and imagination, our professional actors engage children with medically fragile conditions and developmental disabilities, fostering social and emotional growth.
OMB is dedicated to the principle that engaging a child's imagination is a vital part of learning and developing life skills. Our programming empowers children to explore their imagination, engage in critical thinking, and discover the fun-filled experience of expressing emotions through interactive theatre.
Listen: Joe DiPietro Discusses DIANA THE MUSICAL And Upcoming Only Make Believe Gala On WHY I'LL NEVER MAKE IT
Then DiPietro shares the process of bringing Diana, the Musical to Broadway, and the decision to film its stage production for Netflix during the Covid shutdown.
Playwright and lyricist Joe DiPietro (Memphis, Nice Work If You Can Get It) sat down with Patrick Oliver Jones, for this week's episode of Why I'll Never Make It, to talk about his long history with theatrical children's charity Only Make Believe as well as a couple of his shows that struggled coming to and surviving on Broadway.
For 23 years Only Make Believe has been bringing interactive theater to children in hospitals, care facilities, and special education programs. DiPietro is an original board member and shares how it was founded in New York City by producer Dena Hammerstein (Superior Donuts, Honeymoon in Vegas) but has since opened an office Washington, DC with outreach in other cities as well. Every November they have an all-star gala on Broadway to raise funds and awareness for the incredible work they do for children across the country. This year's gala on November 14th, directed by DiPietro, will be hosted by John Oliver and feature performances by a bevy of Broadway performers, including former guests of the podcast Brad Oscar and Kathryn Allison. DiPietro also provides backstory on Montego Glover and Cheyenne Jackson, both of whom have performed at previous OMB galas, and how they were cast in two of his shows, Memphis and All Shook Up, respectively.
Then DiPietro shares the process of bringing Diana, the Musical to Broadway, and the decision to film its stage production for Netflix during the Covid shutdown. Despite positive audience responses to its initial live performances, that movie version notoriously went on to win Golden Raspberry Awards for Worst Screenplay and Worst Picture, among others. While DiPietro offers his own ideas for such poor reception, he nonetheless takes it all in stride, saying "I've had every sort of review you can imagine, and so experience helps. I think if I was a young writer and that was my first thing, I think I would've just walked into the river."
DiPietro and Jones end their conversation with a look at Living on Love, his lone Broadway play that met with mixed reviews back in 2015. It starred another former guest of the podcast, Douglas Sills, along with opera star Renée Fleming, who received general praise for her theatrical debut. It was a whirlwind experience for DiPietro as he was brought in to adapt and overhaul Garson Kanin's play Peccadillo just two months before it started its initial production at Williamstown Theatre Festival. Because of that, the play never got a proper vetting in front of an audience before its stage premiere. Once it was headed to Broadway, though, for a limited run, DiPietro continued to refine the script. "I gave everything I could of myself to the show," he says. "I'm gonna make this as funny as I can." And for DiPietro, it is that process and love of theater-making that has kept him going since his New York debut back in 1996 with I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change.
Broadway Gives Back
S3 EP5: BRAD OSCAR
IN THIS EPISODE
From his current role in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS to his Tony Award-nominated performances in SOMETHING ROTTEN! and THE PRODUCERS, MRS. DOUBTFIRE, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, SPAMALOT, and many more, Brad Oscar is one of the funniest men on Broadway and off. For 20 years, Brad has also supported and now serves on the board of Only Make Believe, an amazing charity that brings theater into special needs schools and hospitals throughout New York City and Washington, DC. Join Brad as he discusses the healing power of the arts in the lives of critically ill and special needs children.
Learn more about about the worthy causes discussed in this episodes and how you can donate and/or help:
Purchase tickets to Only Make Believe’s Back on Broadway gala on on Monday, November 14, hosted by John Oliver
Make Believe Returns Outdoors
After more than a year, Only Make Believe returns to IN-PERSON performances. This time, kids can continue to imagine safely outdoors.
After more than a year, Only Make Believe returns to IN-PERSON performances. This time, kids can continue to imagine safely outdoors.
On June 5th, Only Make Believe returned to long-time partner facility HSC Pediatric Center for a two-person interactive kids show for an enthusiastic group of kids and their families. This Sensory-Friendly performance called “Gamers” allowed kids to move through six different levels in order to become “World-wide Gaming Stars.” Bubbles, talking snakes, and driving levels all created quick work for these groups of kids. Even the occasional (non-scripted) Cicada wasn’t enough to stop everyone from completing all levels.
Samsung Employees Give Back to Help U.S. Communities Thrive in Tough Times
Only Make Believe virtual card design activity for children living with chronic illness and disabilities.
Only Make Believe virtual card design activity for children living with chronic illness and disabilities
Rebecca Naomi Jones, Lauren Patten, Seth Rudetsky and More to Take Part in Only Make Believe Virtual Gala
The 21st Annual Virtual Gala will be held on Monday, October 26th, 2020 at 7pm and celebrate the music Rodgers & Hammerstein.
The 21st Annual Virtual Gala will be held on Monday, October 26th, 2020 at 7pm and celebrate the music Rodgers & Hammerstein.
How Only Make Believe brings theater to kids in hospitals even during COVID
Professional actors bestow the healing power of laughter in interactive videos made from home.
Social Impact Heroes: Dena Hammerstein of ‘Only Make Believe’ is showing that engaging a child’s imagination is a valuable part of the healing process
Every child in our audience takes an active part in creating a world of fantasy and fun in order to transcend the boundaries of the hospital walls.
16 ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN 2019 IN NYC
Only Make Believe is partnering with Halloween mega store Abracadabra NYC to collect unused costumes for chronically ill and disabled children
How Dena Hammerstein (Yes, That Hammerstein) Passes on a Theatrical Legacy
With support from Broadway’s Alan Cumming, Jude Law, Jonny Lee Miller, Jennifer Hudson, and more, Only Make Believe celebrates its 20th anniversary.
