Gospel music will raise money for AIDS.

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Author: Armstrong, Linda1

They say that music has a healing effect on the soul. If that is true, then that must definitely apply to gospel music. Audiences have the opportunity to not only hear some marvelous gospel music â€" mostly original songs â€" but hear them performed by Broadway stars including Tony award winners Adrienne Lenox and Phylicia Rashad on October 16, 8 p.m., at Town Hall, located at 123 W. 43rd Street, when Broadway Gospel Celebration: 11 will take place, as a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Broadway Gospel Celebration: 11 features The Broadway Inspirational Voices, which is a gospel choir of over 60 members, founded and directed by Broadway star Michael McElroy. McElroy founded the group-made of Broadway performers â€" in 1994. During its first year the group was called the Broadway Gospel Choir and had 11 members.

"I'd been living here for 4 years and moved here at the height of the AIDS epidemic and wanted to do something to raise money. We were doing cabaret and Broadway Cares, but there was nothing that was giving us spiritual strength. You have to do something to help you find peace from day to day. I knew that growing up in the church, gospel music was what gave me strength," McElroy told the AmNews.

This year's concert will be hosted by Star Jones Reynolds and feature special guest star Deborah Cox. A multi-racial group of singers representing most of the musicals on Broadway including "Hairspray," "The Producers," "Rent," "Beauty & The Beast," "Wicked," "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," and "All Shook Up" will perform.

"I knew the power of African American gospel music when I started the choir. It's born out of pain and struggle, and I knew that more people from different racial and cultural backgrounds could sing the music and feel the power of it, so I always wanted the choir to be multi-racial and let people see how much it can change their lives, as it has changed mine," McElroy shared.

McElroy views the concert as a unique opportunity.

"It's a great night of gospel music. We don't have many opportunities like this on Broadway, where the African American experience is seen. Through the power of gospel music we can bring it to the African American community and the New York community. People are touched when they come. It makes a difference to have that combination of theater people and church folks."

The messages from most of the songs, which this year are written by McElroy, are messages of healing, glory, rejoicing, celebrating and giving praise.

"One song in particular I wrote is 'Angels Everywhere.' It's interested with everything happening in our country that we have angels in our lives â€" family and friends that protect you â€" and lately, especially with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, total strangers in this country who have come to the aid of other people," McElroy said.

The Broadway Inspirational Voices began doing these annual concerts specifically to fundraise for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, but has also performed for other groups including a recent fundraiser for Hurricane Katrina Victims; for the Actors Fund of America; and the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative.

The choir founder shared that the group will always be committed to fundraising for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS because of the importance of this organization and its work.

"They not only help men, women, and children around the world and country living the HIV/AIDS, they fundraise and grant money to organizations around the country. They give grant money to rural places around the country with programs that assist people with AIDS including food banks, soup kitchens, and laundry services for people with AIDS and organizations that provide transportation services between home and doctor appointments and hospice programs. They also assist with quality of life issues for organizations taking youth on field trips. Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS began helping those in the theater community and has now branched out around the country and in some places around the world. HIV/AIDS is on the rise in the African American community more than any other community, in terms of the rate at which it's growing. So, it's great to have these organizations that are doing something," McElroy said.

Ticket prices range between $40, $70, $125 and $250 for VIP seating. For $250 you receive a playbill signed by Deborah Cox, great seats and a copy of "Great Joy," The Broadway Inspirational Voices CD, which was nominated for a Grammy. For $125 you get a great seat and a copy of the "Great Joy" CD. To order tickets call 212840-0770, x268, or visit the website www.BroadwayCares.org.

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By Linda Armstrong, Special to the AmNews