Young Artist ‘For Good’ (Event News April 13th 2009)

Emma Wahl is not your typical 8th Grader. At the early age of 9 she was one of the youngest child actors to play the role of Annie since the show’s Broadway debut in 1977 performing at Akron's Carousel Dinner Theater. Shortly after Annie she was chosen to understudy the role of Jemima in the Broadway production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2005. As well as already being an accomplished performer Emma also has a philanthropic spirit raising money for great causes such as Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Children’s Miracle Network, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“Two of my biggest passions are musical theater and helping people who are less fortunate than me” says Emma.

Two years ago, Emma learned about Artists Striving To End Poverty (ASTEP) and was immediately inspired to help in any way she could. With the incredible support of ASTEP founder Mary-Mitchell Campbell and her school Hathaway Brown she has been working tirelessly on a very unique, two-year West Fellowship Project to produce ASTEP’s first ever benefit concert outside of New York City, in Cleveland!

The event titled For Good, will be held on Monday, April 13, 2009 at the Performing Arts Center at Cuyahoga Community College’s Eastern Campus in Highland Hills, Ohio. This is the first time in Cleveland that any teenager has organized such an important fundraiser featuring this level of talent.

Mary Mitchell will assist Emma’s endeavors by music directing For Good. Currently scheduled to perform is Tituss Burgess (Good Vibrations, Jersey Boys & Disney’s The Little Mermaid) Julia Murney (Wicked, Lennon; HBO’s Sex and the City and reoccurring roles on Law & Order), Jen Colella (Urban Cowboy, High Fidelity) and Daniel Reichard (New York City Opera Candide). The performers will also be accompanied by some of Cleveland’s best musicians.

This special evening will at also feature a raffle for unique Broadway prizes, including personal backstage tours of some of New York City’s hottest shows, as well as theater memorabilia signed by Kristen Chenoweth and other stars, with all proceeds benefiting ASTEP.

For Good will give Broadway fans in the Cleveland community a chance to enjoy an evening of Broadway hits and other lesser-known songs performed by these incredible New York performers in an intimate setting, while supporting ASTEP, an organization that Emma says, “[She’s] proud to be a part of”. It will truly be a night to remember!

Tickets will are priced at $25 for students and $50 for general admission. VIP seats, $100, will include admission to the post-concert reception with the artists, preferred seating, and a gift bag with special prizes. [A portion of this ticket price is tax-deductible] Tickets can be purchased online at www.hb.edu/ForGood