The 2nd annual “Breathless on Broadway,” an event devoted to raise awareness about pulmonary hypertension (PH), will take place this year on June 6 at Sardi’s Restaurant in NYC. The event is sponsored by Actelion Pharmaceuticals U.S., Bayer HealthCare, Modelogic [Mid Atlantic] and C-Suite Network.
For “Breathless on Broadway” this year, some of Broadway’s favorite performers will participate to help the phaware global association, increasing awareness about PH. Among them are Max Von Essen (“An American in Paris,” “Evita,” “Dance of the Vampires,” “Jesus Christ Superstar”), Giuseppe Bausillo (“Cats,” “Aladdin,” “Newsies,” “Billy Elliot”), Michael Lanning (“Bonnie & Clyde,” “Civil War”), Zachary Sayle (“Newsies Nat’l Tour”), Liv Rand, Switch, and others who will be announced soon.
This benefit event will be co-hosted by Broadway performer Zach Rand (“Les Miserables,” “Mary Poppins”), whose sister Chloe died of pulmonary hypertension, and TV and radio host Jeffrey Hayzlett. It will start at 5 p.m. with a red carpet, followed by dinner and a show. A silent auction with prizes will also take place.
“Broadway (and Sardi’s) are normally dark on Mondays, but not on June 6. That Monday night will be all about raising awareness for an incurable disease, to honor those who live with pulmonary hypertension and remember those who have died from the disease,” Hayzlett said. “I am honored to co-host the evening’s festivities with Zach Rand so that others affected by the disease have a chance at a better life.”
“My family and I are honored to be hosting this event to raise awareness for a very personal cause,” said Rand, And while my sister Chloe isn’t here to witness this, we continue our fight for the many other families affected by pulmonary hypertension. I am excited to co-host with Jeff and thrilled to welcome my talented Broadway colleagues who will perform to help this cause,” Rand said.
Other personalities associated with PH will contribute to the organization with their unique business expertise, including Marie Rand, who co-founded the phaware global association, together with John Hess, Steve Van Wormer, and Harry Rozakis.
“We focus on global awareness and alternative research through the use of technology,” Marie Rand said. “We have taken the models from our for-profit work and thrust them into the nonprofit world, resulting in a unique business model. Our understanding of the disease and for the community in conjunction with our backgrounds in high-end marketing and technology allows us to change the course of both awareness and research.
“I am thrilled to be working in honor of my daughter Chloe and for all people affected by PH,” she added. “The idea for breathless on Broadway began in the car driving home one night when Zach was appearing in ‘Les Miz’ on Broadway. He asked if someday his voice would be big enough to help other people. He was 9 years old. Just before his 18th birthday, the first ‘Breathless on Broadway’ happened.”
More information about the event can be found at www.breathlessonbroadway.com.
PH is a rare life-threatening pulmonary disease characterized by narrowed arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. This leads to an increased pulmonary artery pressure that can affect heart function, and eventually lead to heart failure. Usual symptoms of PH include irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, fatigue, and dizziness. No cure has yet been discovered for PH, but a number of medications are available to improve the symptoms and extend patient survival.