Broadway Cares Presents Cyndi Lauper With $150K For True Colors Fund

Tom Viola, director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS - who I'm proud to have known for over 25 years - writes this:

I had the pleasure of dropping by the stage door of the Hirschfeld Theatre this week to join the cast of Kinky Boots in presenting Cyndi Lauper with a “big check” representing the $150,000 donated to True Colors Fund by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS from the more than $1.2 million in resources raised by the show since it opened in April 2013.

Broadway Cares salutes Cyndi and True Colors Fund for everything they have done to advance equality for all and, in doing so, helping to end homelessness for gay and transgendered youth. “You change the world when you change your mind!” But our voices are stronger and the change embraces us all when we stand together.

Cyndi Lauper is the Tony Award winning composer of the hit Broadway musical Kinky Boots and the founder of the True Colors Fund, which works to end homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth, creating a world in which young people can be their true selves.

The Candi & Randy Show welcomes Tom Viola of BC/EFA

Listen to internet radio with CandiXRandy on BlogTalkRadio

Candi and Randy welcome the Executive Director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Tom Viola.

Tom has been at the forefront of HIV/AIDS advocacy for decades, working with the Broadway & theatre community to raise needed funds for a multitude of charities.

In addition, Tom was one of the original producers of the Obie Award winning play "The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me," written and starring David Drake.

Among many rave reviews, the New York Times called the play "rivetingly angry, intense, frenetic, frank and touching."

Tonight, at the Gerard Lynch Theater at John Jay College, David Drake returns to a one night only celebration of his ground-breaking play. He has rewritten the play to include an all-star cast of openly gay theatre actors including Tony Award nominees Robin De Jesús, André De Shields, Rory O'Malley, RENT's Anthony Rapp, and Tony winner BD Wong.

We talk to Tom about the birth of the play, it's impact on the LGBT community, it's relevance two decades later plus other efforts by BC/EFA.

For info about the event tonight, go to BroadwayCares.org

UPDATE: The 20th anniversary performance of David Drake's solo show raised $66,025 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Sero Project. Bravo!