People don’t often leave voicemails anymore…but if you have six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald greeting your callers, they just might. The Lady Day star is participating in the previously announced second annual Sleep Out: Broadway Edition, a one-night-only event to raise funds for homeless youth.
For a $35 donation, McDonald will recognize you in a “Cool People Hall of Fame” on her Facebook page. For $100, she will give you a shout-out on Twitter. If you donate $275, McDonald will send a personalized autographed copy of the Lady Day live cast recording. Now here’s where it gets fun: For $500, she will record your voicemail greeting and send it as an MP3 file. And for $1000, the stunning soprano will sing “Happy Birthday” on video to you or a special person of your choosing. Supporters who donate by August 15 will be contacted with details on how to redeem their prize.
The Covenant House offers not only an immediate safe haven for homeless, throwaway and runwaway kids in 21 cities, but also provides services to guide them on a path to independent adulthood. On August 17, participants will sit down with kids who live at the Covenant House and the staff who care for them. That night, the adults will take to the pavement and walk in the shoes of the homeless community. McDonald will join the Covenant House's International Board of Directors in September.
This year, the Sleep Out: Broadway Edition executive committee consists of Tony nominee Stephanie J. Block, lyricist and producer Neil Berg, Tony-nominated director/choreographer Jeff Calhoun, Newsies star Capathia Jenkins, Tony winner Denis O’Hare, Disney producer Tom Schumacher and Les Miserables’ Keala Settle. A long list of Broadway participants are donating their time for this terrific cause.