Dear Actors Fund Friends,

For the past ten months, we’ve been overwhelmed with gratitude for the many fundraising events that have chosen to support the programs and services we provide for those in need in the performing arts community. These creative benefits often reflect what we’re collectively experiencing or looking for; so we find it very fitting that two different events we have to share with you this week have the same theme: Hope.

Hope can be exciting and joyful; it can be calming and reassuring; it can be big and loud, or quiet and steady. Hope can be different things to different people; at The Actors Fund, it inspires us to keep working and taking care of those in our community who are facing unimaginable obstacles day after day, believing that there are better days ahead.

Your support gives us hope that there will continue to be compassionate, generous people willing to help us help others; your dedication to the performing arts makes us hopeful and confident that the entertainment industry will be able to return stronger than ever. Thank you for bringing hope to us each week, so that we in turn can give hope and help to those looking for reassurance.

Have a safe and healthy week ahead.

As The Curtain Rises—Live Event
Thursday, January 14, 8 pm ET

BPN Live

The Broadway Podcast Network is reuniting the cast of Broadway's First-Ever Digital Soap Opera, As The Curtain Rises, for a delightful live event with the star-studded cast worthy only of the fabulously dishy and utterly delectable binge worthy shenanigans it represents. Join cast members Alex Brightman, Andrew Barth Feldman, Lesli Margherita, Sarah Stiles, Michael Urie, Lilias White and surprise guests—TONIGHT!

This event celebrates and supports the incredible work of The Actors Fund.

Songs of Hope: Jewish Singers, Songwriters & Composers
Saturday, January 16, 7 pm ET

YouTube Live

Temple Beth El of Somerset, NJ welcomes veteran Broadway performer Bart Shatto, in a one-time showcase of "songs of hope" for today's times featuring pieces by Jewish singers, songwriters and composers (from Stephen Schwartz and the Sherman Brothers to Art Garfunkel, Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand). This event will also include Bart's friends from the Villagers Theatre for a... well... unusual showing of VF15 (Virtual Fiddler on the Roof in Fifteen Minutes-ish).

Proceeds will support The Actors Fund, Temple Beth El and the Franklin Food Bank.

An Evening of Hope: Offerings for the Future of Theatre
Thursday, January 21, 7 pm ET

YouTube

This one-night free virtual cabaret and fundraiser for The Actors Fund will feature a collection of songs, stories and conversations all responding to the question, “What is your hope for the future of theatre?” The event will be hosted by Ann Harada and will feature performances by Kerstin Anderson, Gabi Campo, Lissa deGuzman, Kendyl Ito, Gizel Jiménez, José Luaces, John-Michael Lyles, Leslie McDonel, Kate McMillan, JJ Niemann, Jennifer Noble, Samantha Pollino, Alex Prakken, George Salazar, Shanice Williams and Kristin Yancy. An Evening of Hope is directed by Lana Russell, music directed by Sinai Tabak and the stage manager is Giles T. Horne.

More Online Events:
Stars in the House: Tuesdays-Saturdays at 8 pm ET
LE at Home: Check out the full list of experiences, all of which are available through 2021.
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Life on The Stage Q&A: Watch now
Boys in the Band Life on The Stage Q&A: Watch now
Voices from the Fringe: Sunday, January 17, 2 pm ET