A Night of Make Believe, Matthew Broderick Reunites The Producers
Broderick and Brad Oscar team up again at the Walter Kerr on November 9, as Only Make Believe honors Rob and Marisol Thomas with Jim Parsons on the bill
Some Broadway partnerships never really close. On a Monday night in November, one of the best known comes back for one evening on West 48th Street.
Matthew Broderick and Brad Oscar will give a special reunion performance from The Producers at Only Make Believe's 27th anniversary gala, BroadwayWorld reports. The evening is Monday, November 9, at 7 p.m. at the Walter Kerr Theatre.
Oscar is doing double duty. He also directs the whole show, with musical direction by Steven Jamail, according to the charity's gala page.
Who Is on the Bill
The lineup leans on stage stars and a few famous faces from outside the theater. Jim Parsons, a four-time Emmy winner and Tony nominee, is listed to appear or perform, per BroadwayWorld. So are Tony winners Ali Louis Bourzgui, Lena Hall and Bonnie Milligan.
Model and television host Coco Rocha is on the list, as is Vogue senior editor Chloe Schama. Jess LeProtto of Schmigadoon!, Kate Reinders of the High School Musical series and Nik Walker of Hamilton fill out the cast.
The charity describes the night as an 80-minute Broadway show followed by a VIP after-party at John's of Times Square. The gala performance will be ASL interpreted, per the gala page.
Some Broadway partnerships never really close.
The Honorees
The big award goes to a rock star and his wife. Only Make Believe will give its James Hammerstein Award to singer-songwriter Rob Thomas and philanthropist Marisol Thomas.
The charity's chief executive, Tamela Aldridge, praised the couple in the announcement. "Rob and Marisol Thomas have spent their lives using their platform to lift others up, and their generosity reflects everything this evening stands for," she said, as quoted by BroadwayWorld.
The award dates to 2004. It is named for the theater director and producer James Hammerstein, the late husband of Only Make Believe's founder, Dena Hammerstein. Past honorees include Anna Wintour, Brooke Shields, Kathie Lee Gifford and David Bryan, BroadwayWorld notes.
The smallest honoree may get the loudest applause. Hazel Estrin, a seven-year-old student at Tribeca Prep, will receive the Clay Stefanki Award for her involvement with the charity. The award honors Stefanki, a professional actor who died of brain cancer in 2020 at 33. It was set up in partnership with Andy Roddick and Brooklyn Decker.
Members of the charity's Circle of Honorees will also attend. BroadwayWorld lists among them the two-time Tony-winning writer Joe DiPietro, NBCUniversal general counsel Kimberley D. Harris and Citi legal head Adam Meshel.
What the Money Does
Only Make Believe brings interactive theater to children in hospitals and care facilities, according to its gala page. Its home page adds schools that serve children with disabilities.
"At Only Make Believe, we believe every child deserves an invitation to play, to be heard and to be the star of the show," Aldridge said in the announcement.
What to Know Before You Go
The Walter Kerr Theatre is at 219 West 48th Street, the current home of Hadestown, per BroadwayWorld. Tickets are sold through the charity's gala page.
For another famous company coming back together for one night, read our story on Rent's original company reuniting with Idina Menzel.
On November 9, The Producers gets its old act back. This time the money goes somewhere good.
