Thank you to all of the performers, attendees, sponsors, volunteers, and donors for an unforgettable Broadway Belts for PFF! The event raised a
record-breaking $350,000, bringing its eight-year fundraising total to nearly $1.2 million.
The sold-out event on March 12 featured a “Sweet 16” reunion of the Tony Award-winning musical HAIRSPRAY original cast members to honor
Margo Lion, an original producer and a longtime supporter of Broadway Belts for PFF! The reunion, helmed by its Tony Award-winning composers
Marc Shaiman and
Scott Wittman and featuring stunning performances by
Marissa Jaret Winokur, Harvey Fierstein,
Andrew Rannells,
Jackie Hoffman,
Chester Gregory,
Clark Thorell and many original
Hairspray cast members, drew standing ovations from the crowd.
In addition,
Bryan Terrell Clark (
Hamilton,
Motown: The Musical),
Robert Creighton (
Cagney Frozen),
Lesli Margherita (
Matilda,
Dames at Sea),
Stephanie Gibson (
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and
Alex Getlin (
Anything Can Happen in the Theater) were among the Broadway talents that graced the stage. Making a special appearance, New York Yankees legend and Latin Grammy-nominee,
Bernie Williams, performed in memory of his father who succumbed to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in 2001.
The exclusive fundraiser at New York City’s Edison Ballroom was hosted by Broadway star and comedienne
Julie Halston. As leading advocates for the PFF, Halston and her husband
Ralph Howard co-created the event after their friend, Associated Press theater critic
Michael Kuchwara, passed away from IPF. Coincidentally, Howard was subsequently diagnosed with IPF and has received a lung transplant.
Broadway Belts for PFF! was directed by
Carl Andress (
The Divine Sister) with
Christopher McGovern (
Cagney) as Musical Director and
Ed Windels as Music Coordinator, to honor Broadway producer
Margo Lion. The benefit was produced for the eighth straight year by
D. Michael Dvorchak,
Sue Frost (
Memphis,
Come from Away),
Julie Halston and
Ed Windels.
Thank you again to everyone that helped make this event possible – we can’t wait to see you all again next year!
Check back soon to experience some of the most incredible moments from the evening on the highlight reel.
To learn more about PFF events in your area, contact Jackie Williams at
jwilliams@pulmonaryfibrosis.org or 312-224-4667.
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS
Gay and Doug Lane Charitable Foundation
Steffy Family Foundation
Margo Lion
Daryl & Steven Roth Foundation
Goldhirsh-Yellin Foundation
Debby and Rocco Landesman
David Rockwell
Broadway Cares
Dr. Dan Rose
Hales Family Foundation
Jerry & Sis Levin
Kathy Tullis Memorial
Judith Z. Friedman
