Broadway and Pride
June is an exciting month because the Tony Awards, the big kahuna of recognition for Broadway actors, takes place the second Sunday of the month (this Sunday) and because it is Pride month. And this year, of course, Pride is receiving even more well-deserved attention, because it is the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, a defining time in the history of equality for LGBTQ individuals.
How great to combine both areas with the annual event, Broadway Sings for Pride, on June 24. This year, see the fabulous Susan Lucci, Broadway stars Cady Huffman and Telly Leung, and from RuPaul’s Drag Race, Yuhua Hamasaki, along with many other super talented performers at the annual fundraising concert. Broadway Sings for Pride 2019, titled “Fearless” is produced by founder Neal Bennington, with music direction by Charles Santoro, and will include a look back at Pride from the last 50 years through song and stories. The funds raised will go to worthy LGBTQIA organizations in the New York City area.
Broadway Sings for Pride, “Fearless” will begin at 7:30pm at the Goldman- Sonnenfeldt Family Auditorium, Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10023.
For tickets, go to www.BroadwaySingsForPride.com or https://tinyurl.com/PrideFearless.
To hear more theatre and food news, join Valerie for her weekly radio show and podcast, “Bagels and Broadway with Valerie Smaldone” Saturday mornings from 9-10. Hear the show on the radio at WNYM-AM, online at www.am970theanswer.com, available on Alexa and on podcast (http://bit.ly/2QBGk4w). “Bagels and Broadway” -The only theatre and food focused radio show in New York.
Valerie Smaldone is a 5-time Billboard Magazine Award winner and is well known for her unprecedented success holding the #1 on-air position in the New York radio market on 106.7 Life-FM, an iHeart station. She has hosted, produced, and created several award-winning nationally syndicated programs featuring in-depth interviews with stars like Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Elton John and Mariah Carey among others. Her radio talk show "Bagels and Broadway" highlighted theatre and food personalities. She is an accomplished interviewer and voice artist heard on commercials, narrations, promos and audiobooks, as well as a sought after live announcer.
Most recently, Valerie produced and directed a film, The Thursday Night Club, featuring pop diva Gloria Gaynor in her movie acting debut. She is one of the creators and producers of a docu-series, Divine Renovation, starring Erik Estrada, on streaming networks soon.
