ASTEP & SH-K-BOOM/Ghostlight Records are proud to present 'New York City Christmas- a benefit album for ASTEP'

ASTEP and Sh-K-Boom / Ghostlight Records are very proud to announce new performers to the lineup of 'New York City Christmas' at Joe's Pub [425 Lafayette St, New York, NY] on December 14th at 9:30pm celebrating the album release of the same name.

To mark the exciting release of the album, ASTEP and SH-K-BOOM/Ghostlight Records will host the second annual concert presentation of 'New York City Christmas' at Joe's Pub. Sierra Boggess (Ariel in Broadway's The Little Mermaid), Chester Gregory II (Hairspray, Cry-Baby), Andy Karl (Legally Blonde, Altar Boyz, 9 to 5), Tyler Maynard (Altar Boyz; The Little Mermaid), Lindsay Mendez (Grease), Tory Ross (Cry-Baby, 9 to 5), Anya Singleton (All Music Guide's 'Editor's Pick' award winner), Sally Wilfert (Assassins, Make Me a Song and the national tour of ...Spelling Bee), Tony Award nominees Raul Esparza (Speed the Plow; ABC's Pushing Daisies), Sherie Rene Scott (AIDA, Last Five Years, The Little Mermaid, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Everyday Rapture) and Orfeh (Legally Blonde, Footloose, Saturday Night Fever) are scheduled to perform*. Olivier Award nominee Stafford Arima (London's Ragtime, Altar Boyz, Bowfire, The Secret Garden benefit concert) will direct. Tony Award winner Harriet Harris (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Cry-Baby) will host. Also appearing will be musicians Shankel (on piano), Joe Mowatt (drums/percussion), Randy Landau (bass), and Peter Calo and Michael Aarons (guitars).

$50.00 secures a seat for the concert, $25.00 for standing room. Tickets to the concert are available for purchase online through the Joe's Pub website (CLICK HERE) or at the box office. Seating is limited. For more information about the concert please e-mail info@asteponline.org. ALL proceeds from album sales and tickets to the show go to supporting ASTEP's mission to create positive change for young people in need across the globe.

The 2008 event, conceived, produced and music directed by Drama Desk-nominated orchestrator Lynne Shankel (Cry-Baby, Altar Boyz, Vanities, Summer of '42) featured some of Broadway's most sought-after talent and now, by popular demand, songs from the concert have been recorded as a 12 track holiday album titled 'New York City Christmas-- a benefit album for ASTEP'. "I wanted to take the wonderfully creative and generous spirit from last year's concert and try to bottle it!" says Shankel. "Making an album seemed like the perfect opportunity to do that. To work on a project that was both creatively and philanthropically fulfilling was an amazing experience for everyone involved."

The album featuring fresh, original approaches-- pop, soul, R&B, rock and more-- to favorite holiday songs boasts an incredible line-up of artists including Tony Award nominees Raul Esparza, Orfeh and Constantine Maroulis (The Wedding Singer, Rock of Ages). Also featured are Sierra Boggess, Chester Gregory II, Andy Karl, Tyler Maynard, Lindsay Mendez, Tory Ross, Anya Singleton and Sally Wilfert.

'New York City Christmas-- a benefit album for ASTEP' is available for purchase as a single CD or as a gift-able holiday greeting card (digital download) on the SH-K-BOOM/Ghostlight Records website (CLICK HERE). It is also available for download on Itunes (CLICK HERE). Interested buyers can also purchase the CD through Amazon.com (CLICK HERE) or on the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS online store (CLICK HERE).

*Performers are subject to change without prior notice.