Celebrities Perform Broadway Favorites

Jan 17th, 2002

Press Release
SOURCE: What a Pair

Paula Abdul, Joely Fisher, Deborah Harry, Patricia Heaton, Megan Mullally, Rita Wilson, And More On Board For ``What A Pair,'' Sunday, February 10th At The Wilshire Ebell Theatre

LOS ANGELES--(ENTRTMNT WIRE)--Jan. 17, 2002-- ``What a Pair,'' a benefit for The Revlon/UCLA Breast Center will be held on Sunday, February 10th at The Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, featuring a star-studded cast and crew. Performers include award-winning music, Broadway, television and film stars such as Golden Globe nominee Joely Fisher, Emmy Award winners Patricia Heaton (``Everybody Loves Raymond''), Megan Mullally (``Will & Grace''), Tony Award winner Marcia Lewis (``Chicago'') and film star Rita Wilson.

``I'm thrilled to be performing with such a phenomenal group of female talent to benefit a cause that has touched each of us as women,'' said performer Deborah Harry.

The celebrated Angeles String Quartet, who has recently been nominated for three Grammy Awards, will score the performance. Michael Roth, Randy Newman's orchestrator, will serve as musical director, while Daniel Henning, co-founder (with Noah Wyle) of The Blank Theatre Company, has committed to direct the Benefit.

``These duets embody all that is good about us as humans. They uplift us and take us to a better place. Life is tough. Why do it alone? It's so much better when we work together,'' said director, Daniel Henning.

Also slated to perform for the cause are Paula Abdul, Nora Dunn, Tricia Leigh Fisher, Julia Fordham, Dale Franzen, Lauren Frost, Deborah Harry, Lili Haydn, Kaitlin Hopkins, Allison Jones, Rashida Jones, Sally Kellerman, Heather Paige Kent, Ann Magnuson, Gail Matthius, Marcia Mitzman Gaven, Marni Nixon, Valarie Pettiford, Amy Pietz, Camille Saviola, Miriam Shor, Jean Smart, Marcia Strassman, Tia Texada and Kathleen Wilhoite.

Producer Jo Levi's combined love for musical theatre and determination to raise awareness about a disease that affects nearly 180,000 women in the United States each year, led her to conceptualize ``What a Pair.'' ``Watching this event come together with the collective support of close friends, industry experts and a stellar group of female performers has been a personal dream come true,'' said Levi. Levi shares producing responsibilities with Jody Price, Ruth Fainberg and Katherine Ferwerda. All proceeds from the concert will benefit The Revlon/UCLA Breast Center, where Levi is currently a patient in the High Risk Program.

The Revlon/UCLA Breast Center has been recognized nationally and internationally as a leading center for breast cancer treatment and research. With its high risk, multidisciplinary and follow up programs, The Breast Center has served as a model for others and attracts patients worldwide. Friends of the Breast Program at UCLA is a support group to help ensure the loving care and excellent work that is the core of the Center. Funds raised by ``Friends'' will enhance the leadership role of The Revlon/UCLA Breast Center in fighting and eradicating breast cancer through research, as well as excelling in patient care and education.

Jo Levi is the Vice President of Feature Film Development at Cosgrove/Meurer Productions where she just finished post-production on the film ``Ball In The House'' with Jennifer Tilly and David Strathairn. Levi spent several years in casting at Warner Bros. Television, and worked in development as a freelance story analyst for such companies as Oliver Stone's Ixtlan, Ridley Scott's Percy Main, New Line and Miramax. In addition to being a patient at The Revlon/UCLA Breast Center, she is also a board member of Friends of the Breast Program at UCLA; her mother inspires this night.

Jody Price an independent producer/film executive who is thrilled to be returning to her theatre roots for this worthy cause. Prior endeavors include producing the television series ``Mercy Point'' for UPN and business development for Starboard Entertainment and Wilson Productions, Inc.

She also sits on the board of Camp Bravo, a non-profit organization dedicated to teenagers with a passion for the performing arts. Her work this evening is dedicated to the memory of her mother, who died of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, and her family members and friends who are breast cancer survivors.

Ruth Fainberg is a producer who recently received the ``Wrangler'' award from the Cowboy Hall of Fame for producing ``The Virginian'' starring Bill Pullman and Diane Lane. Fainberg also founded the theater company 15 in a Box and produced the LA Weekly ``Pick of the Week'' presentation of ``The Secret Nymph on New Hyde Park'' by Mark M. Troy. She has worked on various feature films including ``Independence Day,'' ``Zero Effect'' and ``Lost Highway.'' She is a board member of From the Heart, an organization dedicated to providing new children's books for local Head Start programs. She is honored to be included with so many courageous, talented and generous folks working for such a worthy cause.

Katherine Ferwerda has won Garland Awards for "Salome'' and "Ugly's First World'' (The Actor's Gang), Dramalogue Awards for sets and costumes for "In Perpetuity...'' (Powerhouse Theatre), LA Weekly's Production of the Year for "Therese Raquin'' (Wilton Project), and Revival of the Year for "The Man Who Had All The Luck'' (Antaeus Theatre). She feels privileged to work on this project as a tribute to families & loved ones that struggle with breast cancer.

Filed under: Broadway