Playbill, joined by Brennan Srisirikul, Danielle Pretsfelder Demchick, and Aaron Glick, presents Disabled Down Center, a benefit cabaret featuring classic songs performed by disabled artists, June 27 at 7 PM at Green Room 42 in Manhattan.
Performers include Treshelle Edmond (for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf), Rachel Handler (NCIS: New Orleans), Dickie Hearts (Tales of the City), Anita Hollander (Spectacular Falls), Ethan Mathias (The Last Boy), Sebastian Ortiz (A Christmas Carol on Broadway), Fred Scheff (Phantom of the Opera), Brennan Srisirikul (Pillowman), and Nicholas Vivar (Christmas Story). Aisha Jackson (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) provides vocals for Edmond’s performance, and Jelani Remy (The Lion King) provides vocals for Heart’s performance.
Pavar Snipe hosts the benefit that spotlights working disabled artists as they perform their favorite show tunes from roles for which they were never considered but should have been. David Alpert directs with music direction by Lila Kane.
“Disability is an opportunity for creativity, ingenuity, and artistry,” said producer and performer Srisirikul in an earlier statement. “As disabled people, we are complex, and our emotional capacities are deep. Our life experiences afford us a deep emotional well as we embody the characters of the musical theatre cannon, both old and new.”
Disabled Down Center is presented by Srisirikul, Demchick, and Glick. Peter Royston is the production stage manager. Playbill is the presenting sponsor, and Musical Theatre Factory is the fiscal partner. Juliette Sallaway is the graphic designer.
Tickets are free and can be reserved by emailing DisabledDownCenter@gmail.com. Audiences can dedicate a donation towards providing workshops for performers with disabilities by clicking here.