Members of the Broadway and Hollywood communities will sleep on the street August 19 in support of homeless youth as part of the Covenant House Sleep Out: Stage and Screen (previously known as the Broadway Sleep Out).
Individual participants and “teams” of shows will gather at the Covenant House in New York City to hear from the youngsters currently living at Covenant House to better understand their stories before sleeping outside as an act of solidarity with the 4.2 million young people who experience homelessness each year.
“I love this event because participants get to meet some of the Covenant House kids, so homeless youth are no longer the distant, camouflaged strangers we too often pass on the streets,” said Tony winner Audra McDonald, who volunteers her time on the Sleep Out Executive Committee and the Covenant House International Board. “Each time I’ve slept out, I’ve found that the young people are genuinely touched that anyone would take even one night out of their lives to care, and that is what this Sleep Out movement is all about. It is a life-changing, life-affirming event.”
McDonald is also a part of the Sleep Out Executive Committee, which includes Rachel Brosnahan, Jeff Calhoun, Stephanie J. Block, Darius de Haas, Angela Grovey, Diana DiMenna, Sam Pinkleton, and Rachel Sussman.
This year, cast members from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Good Fight, What the Constitution Means to Me, The Cher Show, and the upcoming West Side Story film will sleep out alongside directors, technicians, and behind-the-scenes professionals at the top of their careers. For a full list of participants, visit SleepOut.org.
“We are so honored to have Rachel, Audra, Stephanie, and all of these amazing, talented people from Broadway and Hollywood in our Sleep Out Movement,” said Kevin Ryan, President and CEO of Covenant House in statement. “The stage and screen community are our biggest champions ... the unity they display when come together in solidarity on this night shows how dedicated they are to ending youth homelessness. Their love is oxygen to our young people at Covenant House.”
Similar to a walk-a-thon or race, participants raise funds for their one-night Sleep Out event as individuals or teams. To donate, click here. To get involved, contact Colleen Veldt at [email protected].
