Marcia Cross of TV's 'Desperate Housewives' to Host Scholarship Concert April 24

Marcia Cross of TV's 'Desperate Housewives' to Host Scholarship Concert April 24

LOS ANGELES, April 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The Freedom Band Foundation is pleased to announce that stage, film and television star Marcia Cross, currently starring in the ABC TV hit "Desperate Housewives" will be the host of the second annual concert to benefit the James M. Berg Scholarship Fund on Sunday, April 24, 2005, 6:30 pm at the El Portal Theater, 5269 Lankershim in North Hollywood. The theme of the concert is Broadway Milestones: 75 Years of Striking Up the Band, and features the Hollywood Wind Ensemble under the baton of Artistic Director Bill Masonheimer.

The concert will trace the history of the American musical from the early days of such shows as "Showboat" and "Strike Up The Band" through to the hits of today such as The "Producers" and "Hairspray." Tickets are $20, and all proceeds benefit the scholarship fund. For additional information, go to the Foundation's website, www.freedomband.org. Tickets are available through www.TicketWeb.com.

Ms. Cross came to know the Freedom Band Foundation through the "gay uncle" she referred to in her recent Advocate cover story, who plays saxophone in the Hollywood Wind Ensemble. She is very pleased to support the Foundation and its scholarship program.

The concert is a fund raising event for the James M. Berg Scholarship Fund, to provide scholarship assistance to young people who are involved in what the Freedom Band Foundation has stood for for over a quarter of a century: promoting greater understanding of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) issues, with a passion for the performing arts. The scholarship is named in memory of music educator and long time Great American Yankee Freedom Band director James Berg.

ABOUT THE FREEDOM BAND FOUNDATION:

The Freedom Band Foundation traces its roots back to 1978, when the Great American Yankee Freedom Band was founded to provide entertainment at Lesbian and Gay Pride events and to provide a positive image of LGBT people to the larger Southern California community. Over the years, the organization has grown to include not only the original marching band, but the Hollywood Wind Ensemble concert band and a number of small ensembles, and now sponsors a scholarship program for youth in the performing arts. But the Foundation's mission remains the same as it has been for over 25 years: Supporting the community through Music and Pride.

Source: Freedom Band Foundation of Los Angeles

CONTACT: David Cartwright of Freedom Band Foundation, +1-323-667-BAND

Web site: http://www.ticketweb.com/

Web site: http://www.freedomband.org/

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