SING STREET Goes From Broadway to Bedrooms for Grounded Facebook Live Shows

Determined to show their support to the Covid-19 first responder and essential healthcare workers and the charities assisting the theatre community, the cast of SING STREET present SING STREET: Grounded - At Home With The Broadway Cast, a chance to meet the young cast for some of their favourite scenes and songs to benefit The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. 

SING STREET: Grounded - At Home With The Broadway Cast will take place on Thursday, April 30th from 6:30pm till 7pm (EST) on SING STREET Broadway’s Facebook Page. Donations can be made directly to The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS through Facebook Live during the live-streamed event, which will be available on demand through Monday, May 4th at 6:30pm (EST). 

SING STREET is a story about seeking bluer skies in a time of darkness and celebrates the joy and power of music. 

Relying on the talented cast, strength of the new Broadway score and beating heart of the uplifting story, SING STREET: Grounded - At Home With The Broadway Cast will feature songs including ‘Up,’ ‘Drive It Like You Stole It’ and ‘Go Now,’ as well as ‘Love and Stars,’ the world premiere of a new song written for the Broadway production of SING STREET. 

With 14 young cast members set to make their Broadway debuts, the SING STREET Broadway Show was postponed when Broadway was suspended to stop the spread of Covid-19. SING STREET is directed by Tony Award winner Rebecca Taichman (Indecent), features a book by Tony Award winner Enda Walsh (Once), music and lyrics by Gary Clark (front man of Danny Wilson) & John Carney (‘Modern Love’), choreography by Obie Award winner Sonya Tayeh (Moulin Rouge), and is based on the motion picture written and directed by John Carney. 

The SING STREET cast scattered around the world in Ireland, Great Britain, New York, California, Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey, Florida, Vermont and Massachusetts will be live streamed from their homes, playing their instruments and singing, all in unison on Facebook Live with ambitious technological experimentation, using the medium of the moment with a young cast that is excited by and comfortable with the creative expression that’s possible with a cell phone and a laptop. 

SING STREET: Grounded - At Home With The Broadway Cast is created by the cast with the help of SING STREET show director Rebecca Taichman and the support of film-maker Henry-Alex Rubin, creative agency Droga5 and production company SMUGGLER. 

“The Broadway show suddenly being shut down mere days from opening night was a rough blow for everyone. This young cast is literally bursting with talent and they possess an inspiring energy and authenticity. We all wanted to find a way to keep creating and moving forward. There was also a collective desire to try and help the unsettled state of the world in any small way we could. Putting together an experience that could bring a welcome moment of fun and joy to people while thanking and supporting the NYC first responders felt like an idea everyone could rally behind and, of course, was a very welcome distraction for all involved,” said SMUGGLER Co-Founder and SING STREET producer Patrick Milling-Smith. 

“The cast was armed with old laptops and weak WiFi, but they stayed the course like total pros. The whole adventure of pulling this together with Rebecca over the past few weeks felt like such a triumph. The commitment from this cast was inspiring to all of us lucky enough to be involved. What was so powerful to me is that despite working in the confines of this odd new technology — their joy and sheer talent came through so clearly,” stated director Henry-Alex Rubin 

“On behalf of our entire cast, we are encouraging everyone to support The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS” said Brenock O’Connor, Zara Devlin and Gus Halper in a joint statement. “We are excited to have this opportunity because we found a way to play together again, hopefully capturing the charm and heart of the show, from our homes across the world.” 

“Being a small part in the journey of SING STREET is a gift. This cast is a very special and rare group and together they bring an authenticity and a purity that shines through regardless of the circumstance. While you will have to wait to see Rebecca Taichman’s stunning vision for this musical when it arrives on Broadway, you will get a glimpse of the talent, character, heart, and spirit of this young cast as they raise much-needed funds for New York’s Public hospitals (HHC) and BC/EFA,” said Patrick Milling-Smith. “Like the rest of the world, the cast is stuck at home but determined to contribute to those who are risking their lives for us every day. We hope this event can be a reminder to us all of how fortunate we really are, to show our gratitude, and maybe provide a moment to pause and welcome a smile.” 

“As we all wait for the world to regain its balance, humanity is breaking out in all shapes and sizes. The best theater has always made us think, feel, and escape, and this should be no different, albeit in unusual circumstances,” said David Droga, Founder and Creative Chairman of Droga5. “I am so grateful to all the incredible talents from SING STREET for stepping up to help those on our frontlines in such a lateral and spontaneous manner and, hopefully, also creating something memorable for millions of us all stranded on the sidelines.” 

SING STREET stars Max Bartos as Darren, Brendan C. Callahan as Gary, Billy Carter as Robert, Zara Devlin as Raphina, Gus Halper as Brendan, Jakeim Hart as Larry, Martin Moran as Brother Baxter, Anne L. Nathan as Sandra, Johnny Newcomb as Barry, Brenock O’Connor as Conor, Gian Perez as Kevin, Sam Poon as Eamon, Skyler Volpe as Anne, Amy Warren as Penny, Anthony Genovesi as Declan, with off-stage covers Ilan Eskenazi, Dashiell Eaves, Shadia Fairuz, Sophie Hearn, Michael Lepore and Jace Reinhard.