By Ron Fassler . . .
The Annual fundraiser concert for Broadway Inspirational Voicers (BIV) was held Monday night at City Winery. As the sun set on the Chelsea Piers, a festive and happy crowd gathered to honor an assortment of luminaries from the Broadway and music communities who have long supported its work. Founded in 1994, this forward-thinking organization is all about the future and how best it can serve to uplift and expand upon its Arts & Education programs and to further strengthen their impact.
Titled “Rising with Purpose,” the evening’s honorees included Tony and Olivier Award-winning theatre and film producer Tom Kirdahy, and Tony and Grammy Award-winning, Emmy nominated actress, singer, and producer Renée Elise Goldsberry. In addition, two-time Tony Award winning actress, director, and Theater Hall of Famer Phylicia Rashad received the BIV Legacy Award for her decades-long work to helping to shape the lives of up-and-coming artists, essential to BIV’s mission statement. The promise of “an unforgettable night of inspiration, purpose and powerful music” was fulfilled, most emphatically when the mighty voices of the BIV chorus filled the space with story and song.
Led by volunteers who make up a collective of artists bringing their considerable talents to ignite passion in the arts, BIV’s mission statement has resulted in multiple outreach programs over the years that provide music education to aspiring artists, heal communities in need, and foster inclusivity and diversity through the arts. While speaking with such distinctive theatre mavens as Donna Murphy and Kara Young (both two-time Tony Award winners), who were there to respectively introduce Tom Kirdahy and Renée Elise Goldsberry, their tone was one of joyful admiration. “I’ve known Tom since he used to live across the street from me when I was growing up on Long Island,” Murphy said. As for how BIV inspires her, Murphy described how singing has always been her outlet and that being part of a chorus has been an essential part of her journey as a singing actress. “From taking part in a church ensemble or in a high school production, the coming together of voices is indispensable to learning how to work with others and perfect your craft.” Young professed to only wishing she could sing like those who raise their voices in song. “I wasn’t a church goer and missed out on what that might have done for me in terms of confidence and belonging. I have such respect for those who have that background and who continue to seek it out for the pleasure it brings them.”
Honoree Goldsberry spoke to the effect of how singing in a church choir gave her access to learning how to express herself from a young age. “And I was part of BIV when I first came to New York. I sang alongside Norm Lewis and so many others who’ve moved on to working on Broadway and who continue their connection to BIV.”
Other attendees who showed their support included Aisha Jackson, Busy Phillips, Nathan Lee Graham, and Nichelle Lewis, currently in Ragtime at Lincoln Center, produced by Tom Kirdahy.
The room was power generated by the BIV singers raising the roof, presenters who told wonderful stories about those being saluted, and speeches given by the honorees who appeared genuinely humbled by their turn in the spotlight. This was an evening about giving and giving back and set the tone for what is hopefully another great year of BIV’s their good work and a continuation of their call to action.
Photo credit: Sub-Urban Photography.
