The 24th Annual Gypsy of the Year Competition, one of the hottest tickets of the fall season, plays the New Amsterdam Theatre Dec 3 and 4. Called “the season’s most dazzling talent show,” Gypsy of the Year hosts dozens of Broadway and Off-Broadway performers to raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The evening is the culmination of six weeks of intensive fundraising by Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies—and it’s a sensational display of the most talented singers and dancers in the choruses of shows (known as “gypsies”). Last year, Gypsy of the Year raised an all-time high $4,895,253, pushing the competition’s 23-year total to $49,031,973.
Head down to 54 Below for Mx Justin Vivian Bond: Snow Angel Dec 9-30. In this holiday season’s offering, New York’s favorite trans-disciplinary artist is dressed for snow and primed to deliver a holiday “Mx” of songs from Bond’s critically acclaimed records Silver Wells and Dendrophile. Bond promises a unique take on more traditional holiday fare, some spoken word (a.k.a. spell casting), razor-sharp social commentary and the kind of glamour that makes you feel free to do just about anything on “a midnight clear.”
Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Fund presents the 2nd annual Cyndi Lauper & Friends: Home for the Holidays benefit concert at New York’s historic Beacon Theatre Dec 8. The event helps to raise awareness about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth homelessness and raises money for the organization’s Forty to None Project. Lauper will be joined on stage this year by host Carson Kressley, Sarah McLachlan, Adam Lambert, Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie O’Donnell, Roberta Flack, Hunter Valentine and a special sneak preview performance by the cast of the upcoming Broadway musical Kinky Boots.
BETTY rings in the season with a riotous return to Joe’s Pub on Dec 15, rockin’ the halls with their extensive repertoire of songs, twisted spoken word and blizzards of harmonies. BETTY’s busy year has been packed with triumphant performances across Europe and the U.S., writing more music for television, and fun projects like the long-awaited re-release of their legendary songs from HBO’s Encyclopedia. Come celebrate as BETTY and their special guests make enough holiday memories to roast your chestnuts.
