(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Vanguard Theater Company’s Broadway Buddy Mentorship Cabaret will air on Thursday, August 13, 2020 at 8:00pm ET on BroadwayHD , the premiere streaming service for theater fans, as a benefit for The Actors Fund . The show will feature an introduction by Broadway composer, actor and playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda.

As part of the company’s mission to create a safe space for artists on pre-professional tracks who need mentoring and support, Vanguard created the Broadway Buddy Mentorship Program. The program is designed to pair up-and-coming young artists, hailing from all across Essex County, NJ, with established Broadway professionals. The Cabaret performance is the closing act to a rigorous, three-month-long mentorship experience.

The concert will feature student mentees performing virtual duets with acting mentors hailing from Broadway shows such as Frozen , Hamilton, Hadestown, Dear Evan Hansen, Ain’t Too Proud , Waitress, The Lion King , Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Aladdin - and more - and will include performers such as Ciara Renée, Robert Creighton, Rachel Zatcoff, Tamar Greene, Kimberly Marable, Jewelle Blackman, and Jelani Remy with special guest appearances by Betty Buckley, Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer, Loren Lott, Michael James Leslie and Gabrielle Ruiz.

“Diversity, Reciprocity, Education, Activism & Mentorship are not just words in the Vanguard Theater Company mission statement - they represent the values instilled in our mentees, delivered by our mentors, staff, and Board of Directors, and shared across the stage with our audiences,” said Janeece Freeman Clark, Artistic Director of Vanguard Theater Company. “This next generation of theater has the power to break the divide and be the change we want to see in the world.”

Bonnie Comley and Stewart F. Lane, co-founders of BroadwayHD, said, "BroadwayHD makes live theater more accessible, especially to young people, which is why we whole-heartedly support the Broadway Buddy Mentorship Program and are proud to be their streaming partner. We are sure that our subscribers will enjoy the amazing performances in this special benefit.” 

Additionally, the late Broadway actor, Nick Cordero, who was a mentor in Vanguard’s 2019 Broadway Buddy program, will be remembered during the premiere event by his former mentee, Joe Nalieth. In his tribute, Joe will reflect on his time with Nick and what the loss has meant to the theater community. 

Vanguard Theater Company is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit producing original, collaborative and re-imagined works of theater. Committed to changing the narrative through theater dedicated to DREAM: Diversity, Reciprocity, Education, Activism & Mentorship, Vanguard is committed to color-conscious casting, and professional artistic mentorship. Vanguard Theater Company's year-round programming is made possible through generous support from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, TeeRico by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Investors Bank, collaborations with Montclair Film and other community partners, and the generosity of many individual donors. 

BroadwayHD introduces award-winning theater from all across the globe with both classic and modern productions. Fans can expect to see the full works of Shakespeare, awe-inspiring performances from Cirque du Soleil and a selection of the world’s greatest musical including Kinky Boots, Cats, 42 nd Street, She Loves Me , The Phantom of The Opera, The King and I, Sound of Music, and An American in Paris. All performances are adapted specifically for streaming audiences to maximize the entertainment experience.

The Actors Fund is a national human services organization that fosters stability and resiliency and provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals over their lifespan. Through offices in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, The Fund serves everyone in film, theater, television, music, opera, radio and dance with programs including social services and emergency financial assistance, health care and insurance counseling, housing, and secondary employment and training services.

Since March 18, 2020, The Actors Fund has provided more than $12 million in emergency financial assistance to over 9,363 people who work in performing arts and entertainment. With shutdowns on Broadway and in film and television, theater, concerts, dance, music and many other areas of entertainment, the need is great and growing. This emergency financial assistance is helping our most vulnerable and those in financial crisis with assistance for basic living expenses such as essential medications, to help prevent evictions, and to pay for food or utilities.

As the situation with Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, The Actors Fund has temporarily transitioned to online and phone-based services, which remain available for everyone in the performing arts and entertainment community. These services include: Artists Health Insurance Resource Center, The Career Center, Housing Resources, Addiction & Recovery, HIV/AIDS and Senior Services, Counseling and Emergency Financial Assistance, as well as The Friedman Health Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.