As a student at Staples, August Laska produced benefit concerts for Red Cross Haiti relief, and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
August Laska
Before entering Middlebury College last January, he spent the fall as executive intern at a Broadway production company.
Now — working this summer at a different production firm — he’s combining his talent and skills for a new benefit.
On Monday, August 4 (7:30 p.m.), Joe’s Pub hosts “Broadway Gets GLAAD”: 10 stars providing a night of music. All proceeds benefit GLAAD, an organization fighting for positive gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender images in the media.
August is definitely stepping onto a bigger stage.
Mia Gentile
He and co-producer Kayla Greenspan have booked an all-star cast. It includes Mia Gentile — the 2007 Staples grad now starring in Forbidden Broadway — along with Marja Harmon (Book of Mormon), Ciara Renée (Pippin) and others. They’ll perform a variety of Broadway classics, old favorites and pop tunes.
All are working for free. “That’s not easy,” August notes. “Actors always like to get paid.”
In addition to helping select the singers and songs, August booked the venue. Joe’s Pub is one of the top spots in New York for shows like this.
GLAAD is an organization close to August’s heart.
“The Broadway community closely connected with gay issues,” the former Staples Players star says. “Instead of just giving money to a good cause, having an event like this is a great way to help promote accurate, diverse representation of LGBT people in the entertainment world.”
(For more information on “Broadway Gets GLAAD,” and to purchase tickets, click here.)
