Broadway’s Lauren Kennedy to Perform One-Woman Musical on August 27th to Benefit NC Beautiful

Aug. 5, 2010 - PRLog -- RALEIGH, NC – NC Beautiful has announced that actress and singer Lauren Kennedy will be performing a one-woman musical to benefit the environmental non-profit.  “Tell Me On A Sunday” will be held on Friday, August 27th at The Kennedy Theater in Raleigh, NC.  Reception begins at 7:00pm followed by an 8:00pm performance.

Kennedy is a native of Raleigh, North Carolina who has performed numerous times on Broadway. She has most recently been seen in Vanities, a new musical, at Second Stage Off-Broadway, which recently released a cast recording. She is currently starring in the Off-Broadway show Good Ol' Girls which began previews at the Black Box Theatre on February 8, 2010.  

Kennedy attended University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where she was pursuing a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre, but left school in her senior year to join the pre-Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard.  She was in the short-lived Side Show on Broadway—in the original cast as an ensemble member—and also starred in Monty Python's Spamalot on Broadway as a replacement for the Lady of the Lake. Additionally, she has been seen on Broadway in Les Misérables as well as Cinderella with New York City Opera.

Kennedy has released two solo albums on PS Classics:  an album of all Jason Robert Brown material entitled Songs of Jason Robert Brown and an album dedicated to new musical writers titled Here and Now.  Says Kennedy about her participation in the event, “I am thrilled to be a part of anything that helps NC stay Beautiful.”

NC Beautiful Executive Director, Steve Vacendak, says that he is overwhelmed by this offer from KD Kennedy [an NC Beautiful Board of Director] and Lauren Kennedy [daughter of KD Kennedy].  He hopes the event will be a sellout and promises that no one will leave disappointed.

“Lauren’s enormous talent is equaled only by her generosity and humanity,” says Vacendak.  “We were all excited when KD approached us with this idea that was graciously endorsed by Lauren.  The impact that this event could have on our ability to help educators throughout our state is extraordinary.  I can’t put into words what this opportunity means for us and the far-reaching benefits it will have.  With teacher resources being stretched more than ever, this will enable us to get the resources to those educators that need it most.  We’re so grateful and looking forward to an amazing evening with Lauren.”

Adds KD Kennedy, “I am proud to be on the Board of Directors of NC Beautiful, and I am proud to be the father of Lauren Kennedy!  This event is a natural coming together of a positive organization that is helping North Carolina teachers and others do something about making a more beautiful and clean North Carolina with a talented lady who cares very much about doing the same for our state."  

NC Beautiful was chartered in 1967 as part of Governor Dan K. Moore’s pledge to emphasize preserving the physical beauty of North Carolina.  The goal behind Governor Moore’s vision was to use the gifts North Carolina was blessed with—its natural resources, scenery, climate, and the physical variety ranging from the coast to the mountains—to provide quality of life benefits for its citizens.  That vision became NC Beautiful’s mission:  To foster environmental stewardship through education and outreach to perpetuate the natural beauty of North Carolina.

Today, NC Beautiful concentrates on hands-on programs designed to encourage and empower active involvement by all North Carolinians.  Programs such as Windows of Opportunity Grants, the Environmental Scholars Program, the Moore Fellowship Program and the Annual Azalea Celebration, have become organization and community standards.  

Tickets for the musical event are $100 each with proceeds going to NC Beautiful.  To reserve tickets, call Louise or Aimee at (919) 828-3190.  For more information about NC Beautiful, visit www.ncbeautiful.org.

About NC Beautiful
NC Beautiful has been part of the state’s environmental preservation community for 40 years, supporting awareness, education and beautification efforts that affect our quality of life. Today, we concentrate on hands-on and merit-based programs designed to empower our citizens to preserve the natural beauty of the state of North Carolina. Whether it’s school children building outdoor classrooms, graduate students developing cutting edge research, or a Boy Scout troop planting azaleas at an elder care facility, we make it possible for North Carolinians to keep NC Beautiful. For more information, visit www.ncbeautiful.org.

Media Contacts
Steve Vacendak, Executive Director
NC Beautiful
(919) 828-3190
svacendak@ncbeautiful.org

Louise Carey, Programs Manager
NC Beautiful
(919) 828-3190
lcarey@ncbeautiful.org