'embrace! benefit concert' 17 Feb on behalf of The Matthew Shepard Foundation

On the 17 Feb at 7pm, Michele Helberg and Jamie McGonnigal will present embrace!, a special one-night-only concert to benefit The Matthew Shepard Foundation. The concert will take place at the Westside Theatre, the current home of the long-running off-Broadway hit, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change.

Currently scheduled to appear are: Nancy Anderson (Kiss Me, Kate), Bryan Batt (La Cage aux Folles, Jeffrey), Nikki Renee Daniels (Little Shop, Nine), Max von Essen (The Baker's Wife, Dance of the Vampires), Darius de Haas (Marie Christine), Tom Hewitt (Dracula), Kate Pazakis (Pippin In Concert), Jai Rodriguez (Queer Eye For The Straight Guy) and several other Broadway performers are .

In addition, singer/songwriters Jenny Giering, (Caraboo, The Mistress Cycle) and Randi Driscoll (whose song, "What Matters" has raised more than $40K for The Matthew Shepard Foundation), will also perform.

embrace! will be directed by Jamie McGonnigal, who produced the recent Pippin and Children of Eden Concerts for World AIDS Day.

embrace! will feature songs which celebrate diversity, inspiration and hope and all proceeds will benefit The Matthew Shepard Foundation in its mission to replace hate with understanding. Last year's concert raised thousands for the foundation and spawned embrace! concerts in several other cities around the country.

Tickets may be ordered online at www.matthewshepard.org or by calling 646-289-6864.

The Matthew Shepard Foundation, founded in December 1998 by Dennis and Judy Shepard, was established in memory of their 21-year old son, Matthew, who was murdered in an anti-gay hate crime. The Foundation carries out Matthew's legacy by supporting educational projects, activities and documentaries that raise awareness of the issues involving discrimination and diversity. The Foundation's goal is to educate and replace hate with understanding, acceptance and compassion.