Dear Actors Fund Friends,

Creativity has shown that it truly can overcome anything, including the multitude of obstacles of 2020—especially when people come together and collaborate. The perfect example: Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical! Originating from fans and creators on TikTok, this one-time-only concert event will blend the worlds of Broadway and TikTok to create a musical extravaganza unlike anything we’ve seen before.

Creativity also shines among our frontline workers, as shared in Brave Hearts for Broadway’s second production: Holidays from the Heart. They say it best: “Healthcare professionals help mend broken bodies, while our theater brothers and sisters help heal our collective souls. Now more than ever, it’s become apparent that we need each other.” We can’t wait to celebrate the holiday season with The Frontline Choir and Friends, honoring their commitment to their worlds of medicine and the arts as they face unimaginable circumstances.

We have been so inspired by the variety of fundraising initiatives people have created to support our programs and services. You can find many of them in our Holiday Gift Guide, where all items and experiences include a component to benefit The Fund.

We hope you enjoy these upcoming virtual events, experiences and more, all showing sparks of creativity and generosity for our performing arts community.

Barbecue
Thursday, December 10, 8 pm ET

Spotlight on Plays

In Robert O’Hara’s rollicking Barbecue, the O’Mallerys have gathered in their local park to share some barbecue and rousing straight talk while they await their youngest sister’s arrival. What appears to be a festive occasion is actually something quite different. O’Hara, who staged this year’s acclaimed Slave Play, directs a company that includes Colman Domingo, S. Epatha Merkerson, Tamberla Perry, Kimberly Hebert Gregory, Heather Simms, Tony Award winner Laurie Metcalf, Carrie Coon, David Morse, Kristine Nielsen and Annie McNamara.

Another Year Has Gone By
December 11–13

Stellar Tickets

During the summer, singer Jonathan Christopher (Hamilton National Tour, Dave Malloy's Octet, The Black Clown) began giving socially distant patio concerts for his neighbors in Toronto. These ‘over the railing’ performances quickly gained a following, so with the end of the year approaching Jonathan has collaborated with Canadian music director Paul Moody to share his joy and warmth with the rest of the world in this unique virtual concert! Join Jonathan, Paul, a live band and a few special guests, including the Portuguese soprano Eva Santiago and Jonathan's brother, Broadway star Nicholas Christopher, as they lend their talents to help you finish the year on an uplifting note! Filmed in person at Small World Music Centre in Toronto, the evening will be exclusively available to stream for one weekend only.

‘Twas the Night: A Radio Play
Monday, December 14, 7 pm ET

TwasTheNightPlay.com

Join us for a podcast radio play production of 'Twas the Night, a present-day reimagining of the beloved poem A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore. Parents Ian and Margaret are having a serene Christmas night, their two children dreaming of sugar plums in the next room, when a series of noises and crashes cause concern that Margaret's younger brother is playing a holiday prank. In the end, the whole family remembers that the spirit of Christmas is stronger than ever.

This production features voice acting from Christopher Jackson, James Monroe Iglehart, Aneesa Folds, Lexi Garcia, Nik Walker, Fergie L. Phillippe, Eddy Lee, Patrick Hinds, Michael Paul Smith and Gillian Pensavalle. It will be released for free on all podcast apps via The Hamilcast feed and fans and listeners are invited to donate to The Actors Fund.

Holidays from the Heart
Wednesday, December 16, 7 pm ET

Brave Hearts for Broadway

Brave Hearts for Broadway teams up again with Playbill.com to present Holidays from the Heart, a special streamed event to celebrate the holiday season. Frontline and essential workers, along with their theater friends, will sing and dance their way through notable tunes and a few surprises celebrating everything from Christmas to Kwanzaa.

This special event will be free to watch with donations encouraged at actorsfund.org/BraveHearts. Enjoy this sneak peek from The Frontline Choir and Friends and trailer to help you get in the holiday spirit!

Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical
Friday, January 1

TodayTix.com

The Tony Award-winning theatrical production company Seaview (Slave Play; Sea Wall/A Life) will present, in association with TikTok and TodayTix Presents and for one performance only, Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical to benefit The Actors Fund. Tickets for this one-time-only, online event are now on sale on TodayTix.com. The performance will be available for streaming for 72 hours. The community-created viral sensation has earned the engagement of more than 200 million fans around the globe.

Tickets are on sale exclusively on TodayTix by visiting TodayTix.com or downloading the TodayTix app.

More Online Events:
Stars in the House: Mondays-Saturdays at 8 pm ET
LE at Home: Check out the full list of experiences, all of which are available through 2021.
#BWAYWORLDRECORD: Join them to attempt breaking The Guinness World Records™ title for the record of largest online video album of people singing the same song.
When The Lights Are Bright Again: Submit your letter to this book BY our industry, FOR our industry, immortalizing this historic moment in time
Catharsis Co. Skincare: $5 of every purchase will be donated to The Actors Fund
Kris Kringle The Musical: Online Advent Calendar through December 25
The Broadway Star Project Family’s Holiday Special: Sunday, December 13, 7 pm ET