Theater News

Tony Winner Billy Porter, Olympic Gold Medalist Greg Louganis, and More to Appear at Uprising of Love Benefit Concert

Patti LuPone and Sting are on the roster of performers for the LGBTI event.

Sting will perform at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre on September 15 for Uprising of Love: A Benefit Concert for Global Equality.
Sting will perform at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre on September 15 for Uprising of Love: A Benefit Concert for Global Equality.

Additional performers and presenters have been announced for Uprising of Love: A Benefit Concert for Global Equality, scheduled for Monday, September 15, at the Gershwin Theatre where Broadway's Wicked currently resides.

From executive producers Stephen Schwartz (Wicked) and Bruce Cohen, the event partners with the United Nations to support the efforts of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the U.N.'s Free & Equal campaign, calling for equal rights globally for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. The net proceeds from the concert will go to Fueling the Frontlines, a three-year, $20 million campaign for global LGBTI rights led by the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice.

Two-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone (Gypsy) and 16-time Grammy Award winner Sting (The Last Ship) were previously announced as performers at the benefit event. The concert will also feature Emmy nominee Laverne Cox (Orange Is the New Black), Tony winner Billy Porter (Kinky Boots), country star Chely Wright, Olympic diving gold medalist Greg Louganis, Bollywood star Celina Jaitly, and Matt Gould, Griffin Matthews, and the cast of their new musical Witness Uganda.

The evening of stories and performances will feature a script by Academy Award winner and Uprising of Love cofounder Dustin Lance Black (Milk). The concert will be directed by Schele Williams and produced by Jayson Raitt, with musical direction by Alex Lacamoire. Additional performers and speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Cofounded by Melissa Etheridge, Dustin Lance Black, Bruce Cohen, and dozens of other notable members of the entertainment, sports, business, and politics communities, the Uprising of Love campaign was established prior to the Sochi Winter Olympics in an effort to shine a light on Russia's antigay laws. The movement now focuses on raising awareness and funds for LGBTI activists around the globe.

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Uprising of Love

Closed: September 15, 2014