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Benefit concert in Greeneville, TN

Benefit concert for Niswonger Children’s Hospital to feature Broadway performers and local youth

“One Singular Sensational Evening,” a benefit for Niswonger’s Children’s Hospital, will feature 16 local youth alongside four Broadway performers.

The event will be held at 7 p.m., Saturday at Niswonger Performing Arts Center in Greeneville. Proceeds will benefit Niswonger Children’s Hospital in Johnson City, the region’s only hospital dedicated solely to the care of children.

“This is going to be a truly exciting and memorable evening, not only because of the Broadway stars that will be performing, but because of the singularly sensational kids that were chosen from across the region to participate,” said Cookie McKinney, manager of children’s initiatives for the Mountain States Foundation.

The Foundation held a series of auditions earlier this year to recruit young performers from across the 29-county region served by Niswonger Children’s Hospital. Five featured performers and 11 ensemble cast members were chosen. The finalists received a special tour of Niswonger Children’s Hospital so they could see what their fundraising efforts would support.

“I wanted to perform in this event so that I could help children at the hospital,” said 9-year-old Virginia Pillion of Abingdon, Va., the youngest performer in the production. “My brother has hemophilia and is a patient there. He has been treated very well at Niswonger Children’s Hospital. I want to help other children so that they can get the treatment they need to be healthy.”

“This is not only gaining experience for me vocally, but it’s also benefiting a great cause,” said Emily Bryant of Greeneville, the oldest performer in the production. “This is very close to my heart because I want to be a nurse in a children’s hospital. That’s what I’m going to school for next y e a r. ”

Other youth performers include Lily Brock of Indian Trail Middle School, Emily Nagy of Science Hill High School and Kevin O’Bryan of Bristol’s Tennessee High School. The youth ensemble includes Ariane Belcher of Tri-Cities Christian School, Grace Belt of Science Hill High School, Cassie Brooks of University High School, Alex Gibson of Virginia High School, Olivia Graham of Tusculum View Elementary School, Jack Hudson of University High School, Kayla Jenkins of Sullivan South High School, Laura Mixon of Dobyns-Bennett High School, Matthew Torbett of Mary Hughes Elementary, and homeschoolers Wyatt Farr and Gareth Zahnke.

The Broadway performers scheduled to lead “{One} Singular Sensational Evening” are Denise DiRenzo, who has performed in “Cats,” “A Chorus Line,” “Sophisticated Ladies,” “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Guys and Dolls”; David Elder, who has performed in “White Christmas,” “Curtains,” “42nd Street,” “Kiss Me Kate” and “Once Upon A Mattress”; Gary Mauer, who has performed in “The Phantom of the Opera” in the role of the Phantom, “Les Miserables,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Sweeney Todd” and “Pirates of Penzance”; and Cary Miller, who has performed in “Saturday Night Fever,” “Little Women” and “Seussical.”

Tickets are $35 for adults and $10 for students, and are available by calling (423) 638-1679 or visiting www.greenevillen.pac.com.