Theater News

Sweet Charity

Theater people give their all to make smashing successes of The Actors’ Fund’s Chess concert and BC/EFA’s Flea Market and Grand Auction.

New York City

The Actors’ Fund of America’s all-star concert performance of the Benny Andersson-Björn Ulvaeus-Tim Rice musical Chess last night was thrilling. Making his Broadway debut in the show was recording phenomenon Josh Groban, seen here with members of the company in the “Embassy Lament” number.

The concert at the New Amsterdam Theatre was one of those events wherein just about every song set the crowd to cheering. Here’s Adam Pascal as the American chess superstar Freddie Trumper, being mobbed by fans upon his arrival in Merano at the top of the show.

Here are Raúl Esparza and dancers in “The Arbiter’s Song.”

Here’s the fierce and fabulous Julia Murney as Florence Vassey with Groban as Anatoly Sergievsky, the Russian Grandmaster, in their “Mountain Duet.”



The concert was highlighted by two magnificent “Chess Game” ballets, choreographed by Christopher Gattelli.

Backed by full chorus and orchestra, Groban brought the first act to a close with his impassioned performance of one of the show’s most famous songs, “Anthem.”







“One Night in Bangkok” makes a hard man humble.





We leave the one-night-only performance with a photo of all seven leads: Raúl Esparza (top) and, left to right: Jonathan Dokuchitz, Josh Groban, Sutton Foster, Julia Murney, Adam Pascal, and Norm Lewis. The event raised almost $800,000 for The Actors’ Fund.

The after-party for Chess was held at John’s Pizzeria on West 44th Street, where the stars and creative team posed for photos. Here are Esparza, Pascal, and Murney…


…here’s Sutton Foster with the show’s artistic producer/musical director, Seth Rudetsky…



…and here are composers Benny Andersson (left) and Björn Ulvaeus (right), flanking lyricist Tim Rice and star Josh Groban.



The weather cooperated beautifully on Sunday, September 21, helping to make the 17th annual Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Flea Market and Grand Auction a great success. Here, Raymond Shelton shows off merchandise that was up for bid during the live auction.





Among the many stars who gave of their time and talent during the flea market and auction were Hairspray‘s Matthew Morrison…

…TV star Delta Burke, soon to take over the role of Mrs. Meers in the Broadway production of Thoroughly Modern Millie…








…and three-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald. The grand total raised by this year’s event in Shubert Alley and environs: $512,000.