{"id":30965,"date":"2025-04-02T10:03:04","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T14:03:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=30965"},"modified":"2025-04-02T16:53:45","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T20:53:45","slug":"self-help-africa-holds-its-broadway-inspired-10th-anniversary-live-concert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=30965","title":{"rendered":"Self Help Africa Holds its Broadway Inspired 10th Anniversary Live Concert"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Monique Coleman
Photo: Brad Balfour<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Report by Brad Balfour<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What: 10th Annual Broadway for Self Help Africa Concert
When: Monday, March 24th 2025
Who: Various Performers
Where: The Green Room 42, 4th Floor
570 10th Avenue in Yotel NYC Times Square<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monday, March 24th, marked a special milestone. The 10th annual Broadway for Self Help Africa [SHA] event was held at the intimate Green Room 42 in the Yotel Hotel. Thanks to incredible performances from eight Broadway stars — and the return of longtime SHA supporter and event founder Katie Gassert as the MC — it was a night to remember.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over $12,500 was raised to support the NGO\u2019s work across Sub-Saharan Africa. Thanks to the audience\u2019s generosity, the money helps fund programs that promote food security, women\u2019s entrepreneurship and climate resilience in communities throughout the region that needs it the most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Dublin, Ireland, based organization works to alleviate hunger, poverty, social inequality, and climate change\u2019s impact in Sub-Saharan Africa. 90% of all donations go directly to their work there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the years, Self Help Africa has reached over five million people across Africa, providing them with a hand up, not a hand out approach. It looks at the region as a place of opportunity, where investment and entrepreneurship can lift up millions of people out of poverty every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In attendance supporting Self Help Africa were such personalities as actress Cathy Moriarty and daughter Bella, actor Joe Pantoliano and his family, Nicky and Jojo Scarlotta, Jay Manuel, Jen Fessler and Dolores Catania.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kicking off the event was the svelte Alex Finke doing a version of \u201cOrange Colored Sky.\u201d Then up was F. Michael Haynie (\u201cWicked,\u201d \u201cCharlie and the Chocolate Factory,\u201d \u201cFrozen\u201d) whose version of \u201cMemphis Lives in Me\u201d lent a
rich, country-fied voice to this song from the musical “Memphis.” This heartfelt rendition recalled this show about a white deejay who promotes black music at a time when it was seriously taboo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another uncanny performance was offered by Geoff Kidwell (\u201cWaitress,\u201d \u201cTina: The Tina Turner Musical,\u201d \u201cWhite Noise\u201d). He found an obscure tune, \u201cOn the Streets of Dublin,\u201d which struck — shall I say — a very sympathetic note from the audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the 1967 musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” Hayley Podschun (\u201cWicked,\u201d \u201cHairspray,\u201d \u201cHello Dolly,\u201d \u201cChaplin\u201d) and Julia Murney (\u201cWicked,\u201d \u201cThe Wild Party, A Class Act\u201d) performed an impromptu version of \u201cMy New Philosophy\u201d where Sally and Schroeder exchanges words in song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accompanying herself on guitar, Katryna Marttala (\u201cBroadway Sessions,\u201d Hair,\u201d \u201cMamma Mia\u201d) did a touching song, \u201cThe Joke.\u201d\u00a0Following her was dapper Josh Breckenridge (\u201cSwept Away,\u201d \u201cThe Heart of Rock and Roll,\u201d \u201cCome From Away\u201d) doing \u201cFather How Long\u201d from “The Civil War: An American Musical.” His deep voice made the rendition all the more powerful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The show also featured two songs from major musicals. Julia Murney (\u201cWicked,\u201d \u201cThe Wild Party, A Class Act\u201d) did a remarkable version of \u201cMaria\u201d from “West Side Story” giving it a unique spin. Then MC Gassert did a fulfilling version of \u201cThe Wizard and I\u201d from “Wicked” She did this unplanned performance in response to the success of the show reeling in so many contributions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Closing out the night was the glammed up Monique Coleman (\u201cHigh School Musical\u201d) who sang a rousing task on the Gloria Gaynor\u2019s dance classic, \u201cI Will Survive.\u201d Her performance brought many in the crowd to their feet dancing away to this club favorite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An after party down the hall brought everyone together where performers and audience partied, closing out a very successful night for Self Help Africa. Look out for their fall gala in Manhattan later this fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information on future events, visit www.selfhelpafrica.org<\/a><\/p>\n

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