Dear Actors Fund Friends,

Six months ago, our world changed in ways we could never have imagined when the entertainment industry shut down. But our performing arts community did what it does best: it rallied together, took action, and most of all, started taking care of each other.

We’ve been blown away by how many people have made donations of time, talent and funds to our COVID-19 Emergency Financial Assistance program. Two such people, Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley, were the first to launch an online show benefiting The Fund, where they invited artists to go live with them to share songs and behind-the-scenes stories, while also providing up-to-the-minute medical information from CBS’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook.

Last night, this show—Stars In The House—celebrated its six-month anniversary and hit the amazing milestone of raising $508,000. As our CEO Joe Benincasa said,

“When Broadway shut down on March 12, Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley immediately jumped into action and created Stars In The House. Their drive to keep the performing arts community connected these past six months, while also raising more than half a million dollars for The Actors Fund, is what makes our industry so wonderful. And thanks to the generosity of thousands of Stars In The House viewers and special guests—including our Chairman, Brian Stokes Mitchell—The Actors Fund has been able to provide crucial, live-saving assistance to more than 13,000 entertainment professionals in need. We're incredibly grateful.”

We’re so proud that since March 18, The Actors Fund has distributed $16 million to more than 13,000 entertainment professionals in need due to the global pandemic. None of this would have been possible without each and every one of you. Thank you, and we hope you enjoy these upcoming virtual special events.

A Marvellous Party
Sunday, September 20, 2:30 pm ET

Broadway On Demand

The Noël Coward Foundation announced A Marvellous Party, a transatlantic, star-studded collection of performances celebrating the continuing legacy of Noël Coward and coinciding with the 100th anniversary of his West End debut as a 19-year-old playwright. This unique celebration features words and music by Noël Coward, performed by Kate Burton, Judi Dench, Stephen Fry, Montego Glover, Derek Jacobi, Josh James, Cush Jumbo, Robert Lindsay, Kristine Nielsen, Bebe Neuwirth, Julian Ovenden, Patricia Routledge, Kate Royal, Emma Thompson, Giles Terera, Indira Varma and Lia Williams.

Register for free in advance to watch the show (it will remain available on demand for 14 days). While free to watch, donations are encouraged to benefit The Actors Fund in the U.S. and Acting for Others in the U.K.

Let Us Entertain You
Wednesday, September 23, 7 pm ET

Playbill.com

Brave Hearts for Broadway and The Actors Fund present Let Us Entertain You, a very special event that will bring together a performance from frontline and essential workers to support The Fund as they give back to the theater industry and celebrate the performing arts.

Michael E. Merritt, a registered nurse, playwright and producer, united over 120 people from 11 different countries to support and uplift theater professionals across the globe by organizing “The Frontline Choir and Friends,” a company made up of frontline workers, a dance group and theater professionals. The Frontline Choir will sing and dance to original songs written especially for this event by Matt Cusson, Terron Brooks, Elisa Nicolas and Andrew David Sotomayor. The event is choreographed by Kathleen Brazie and John Scott.

Among the many amazing performers taking part are Jelani Alladin, Annaleigh Ashford, Shoshana Bean, Annette Bening, Alexandra Billings, Tommy Bracco, Kristin Chenoweth, Harvey Fierstein, Mandy Gonzalez, Ann Harada, Ruthie Henshall, Judy Kuhn, Linda Lavin, Jessie Mueller, Bebe Neuwirth, Bernadette Peters, Conrad Ricamora, Chita Rivera, Lea Salonga, Stephen Schwartz, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Allyson Tucker, with special performances by Billy Porter, Megan Hilty and Brian Gallagher, and Lorna Luft.

Geffen Playhouse’s The Present
Saturday, October 17, 9 pm ET

Online Event

Geffen Playhouse’s The Present is inspired by Helder Guimarães’ own life experience with quarantine during childhood. Using his signature mind-bending illusions, Guimarães recalls the funny, moving and ultimately illuminating lessons he learned when he least expected them.

Having sold out its entire 24-week run with rave reviews from audiences and critics alike, The Present has become one of the most successful interactive virtual shows of 2020. They're opening up the production to the entire world for one final blow-out spectacular live-streaming event, with donation proceeds directly supporting our COVID-19 relief efforts.

Meet Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

Omaze Sweepstakes

Don't miss your chance!

Get ready to raise your eyebrow, flex your muscles and flash your biggest smile… because you’re about to snap a one-of-a-kind photo with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson! You and a friend will join Dwayne and his friend–producer and photographer Hiram Garcia–for an epic photo session you’ll never forget. You can pose however you want, and if you’d like to wear a turtleneck, gold necklace and fanny pack, Dwayne definitely won’t judge. You’ll go home with amazing memories, an awesome photo guaranteed to get you tons of likes, plus a copy of Hiram’s new photo book The Rock: Through the Lens, His Life, His Movies, His World. Flights and 4-star hotel accommodations are included!

Note: This experience will be scheduled when it’s both safe to travel and convenient for our partners.

More Online Events:
Stars in the House: Mondays-Saturdays at 8 pm ET
Steppin Forward Virtually to Celebrate the Music of the Legendary Neil Sedaka: The virtual concert, presented to support The Actors Fund, has returned on both Times Square Chronicles and Broadwayworld.com and will remain available through the end of October 2020.