Log In


Reset Password
Cultural Events

'From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert For Sandy Hook' Being Released As DVD, Blu-Ray & Double-CD Set

Print

Tweet

Text Size


CLARIFICATION (February 10, 2014): Broadway Records will donate 100% of its profits from the sales of From Broadway With Love in all formats. The company  is not making any money from the sales through iTunes. 

* * * * *

Broadway Records has announced the release of From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert For Sandy Hook on DVD (February 4), as a two-CD set, as two volumes digitally via iTunes (February 7), and on Blu-Ray (February 18). 

Broadway Records will donate 100% of its profits from the CD, DVD and Blu-Ray to support the Newtown-Sandy Hook community via The Newtown-Sandy Hook Community Foundation.

The CD, DVD and Blu-Ray can be purchased on  ($24.62, $39.99, and $44.99, respectively).Amazon.com

Beginning February 12, the 2-CD set and DVD will be available for purchase with combined discounts at Newtown/Sandy Hook area retailers, including Caraluzzi’s, The Toy Tree, Wishing Well, Down on Main Street, Queen Street Gifts & Treats, and Everything Newtown. The Blu-Ray will be available for purchase by February 24.

Additional retailers within Fairfield County are expected to join going forward. (Contact David Deschenes at 203-858-8404 if you would like to make the CD/DVD/Blu-Ray available for sale at your retail location or organization).

“From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert For Sandy Hook” was a concert of healing for the Newtown community where composers, musicians and more than 100 stars of Broadway came together with over 300 students from several Newtown dance groups, the Sandy Hook Elementary School 3rd and 4th grades (2012-13 school year) and the Newtown High School Chamber Choir (2012-13 school year).

A one-hour version of “From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert For Sandy Hook” aired on local PBS affiliates in the New York City tri-State area. The concert, which took place on January 28, 2013, at The Palace Theater in Waterbury, was recorded and is what is being released, in its entirety, on DVD and the two-CD set this week.

The DVD and Blu-Ray editions both contain nine special features on the making of the concert and behind-the-scenes footage.

The deluxe CD release includes 68 pages of photos from the concert and essays from the creative team.

The concert featured renowned Broadway performers including Brian Stokes Mitchell, Linda Eder, Stephen Schwartz, Micky Dolenz, Marc Shaiman, Michael Cerveris, Frank Wildhorn, Nikki Blonsky, Alan Muraoka, Robin de Jesus, Ashley Blanchet, Capathia Jenkins, Christine Ebersole, Paul Scott Goodman, Philip Boykin, Richard Kind, Brett Boles, Mary Testa, Julia Murney, Janet Metz, along with Muppets and cast members from Sesame Street, members from various casts of Million Dollar Quartet: Lance Guest, Erik Hayden, Randy Redd, Dan Mills, Victoria Matlock, featuring Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats, and members of the Broadway and touring casts of Sister Act.

Brett Boles, author of the musical Foreverman, and Broadway producer Van Dean, both from the Newtown area, conceived of the benefit concert.  It all started with a Facebook message on December 16, two days after the tragedy, from Brett, the emerging musical theater writer, to Van, the Tony Award-winning producer, after meeting at a theater industry event.

“After Brett suggested the notion of a benefit concert to me, I immediately posted a note on my Facebook page looking for volunteers. Within a few hours I had 100 responses and knew that this would become something very special,” noted Dean. Six weeks and 700 volunteers later, the concert took place, thanks to the generosity of the volunteers and sponsors who provided the theater, transportation, lighting and sound equipment, set elements, food and the majority of the other resources needed to put on the show.

Emmy Award-winng Michael Kostel and Tony Award-winner Van Dean/The Broadway Consortium are executive producers of the DVD and Blu-Ray. Emmy winner Bon Conover directed the filmed version of the concert and the special features. Jeffrey McLaughlin, of Chelsea Post, edited the 108 minute concert video; Firelight Media Group, LLC provided the post production DVD and Blu-Ray authoring; and Michael Croiter, of Yellow Sound Label, mixed the concert and produced the CD.

The benefit concert was directed by Michael Unger and was produced by Van Dean and Kenny Howard of The Broadway Consortium, Jennifer Isaacson, Ken Mahoney, Sarahbeth Grossman, Bethney Ruggiero, Michael A. Alden, Rob Hinderliter, Yvette Kojic, Dale Badway, Mike Kostel, Dominick LaRuffa, Jr. and Meredith Lucio.

Jeffrey Saver served as music director and conducted a 40-piece orchestra consisting of many top Broadway musicians. Librettist David Thompson helped the creative team shape the evening.

Cindi Rush Casting acted as Casting Consultant. Tom Bussey served as Technical Supervisor, Tom McPhillips and Mike Rhoads as Scenic Designers, David Agress as Lighting Designer, Kristin Fiebig as Costume Designer, John Petrafesa as Sound Designer, and David Bengali as Projection Designer. Zoya Kachadurian served as Production Stage Manager.

The show’s song list included 26 selections, among them “Seasons of Love,” the Sandy Hook School Song, “Defying Gravity,” “Ol’ Man River,” “Somewhere,” “Just One Person,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “I Hear You Knockin,’” “Brown Eyed Handsome Man,” “I’m A Believer,” “Good Morning Baltimore,” “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” “The Impossible Dream,” and “Finding  Wonderland.”

Bob McGrath and Rosita, during their “From Broadway with Love” performance.
Dancers Shanna Heverly and K.C. Fredericks during their performance of “Still.”
The cast and crew of “From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert For Sandy Hook,” on the stage of The Palace Theatre, January 28, 2013. The show has been recorded and edited into four different formats, all being released this month.
Comments
Comments are open. Be civil.
0 comments

Leave a Reply