Hamptons Dancers For Good To Commemorate Jerry Mitchell, Bob Fosse And Gwen Verdon

An extraordinary lineup of dance companies will once again lend their talent to a worthy cause, Dancers For Good, during the fourth annual Hamptons benefit held in support of The Actors Fund.

“As a former Broadway performer who is now an event planner and resident of East Hampton, it’s one of the biggest joys of my annual calendar to bring a beautiful event to the East End that includes world-class performances and at the same time raises money for The Actors Fund, a vital organization,” Eric Gunhus, Dancers For Good co-founder and co-producer, reflected.

This year’s Dancers For Good will take place on Friday, July 19 at Guild Hall in East Hampton. Tony Award-winner Cady Huffman (The Producers) will host the fête, which will pay tribute to Director & Choreographer Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots, Pretty Woman), who will receive the Dance Humanitarian Award for creating Broadway Bares and Bob Fosse (Cabaret, Chicago) and Gwen Verdon (Damn Yankees, Sweet Charity), who will posthumously be honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards in Dance. Nicole Fosse (Executive Producer of FX’s Verdon/Fosse) will accept the award on her parents’ behalf.

“My co-producer Michael Apuzzo of Paul Taylor Dance Company and I set out to not only bring the best of dance to the Hamptons, but to bring awareness to the challenges performing arts individuals face in giving us all their artistry,” Gunhus explained.

As for talent, it surely won’t disappoint. The 2019 iteration will showcase Broadway Bares, The Verdon Fosse Legacy, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Madboots Dance, Carolyn Dorfman Dance, Amy Marshall Dance and special guests Luke Hawkins (Hawkins Tap Company), Ari Mayzick (Buglisi Dance Theater), Sean Rozanski (The Bodyguard), Michael Cusumano (ABT) and vocalist Nedra Belle (NBC’s The Voice). The evening will feature a Jerry Mitchell Broadway Bares Tribute led by Kristine Bendul, Waldemar Quinones-Villanueva and Ryan Daniel Beck, while Bianca Marroquin, Nicholas de la Vega and Nicholas Sipes will perform Mexican Shuffle into Fosse‘s I Gotcha. Additionally, Michael Apuzzo of Paul Taylor Dance Company will debut a World Premiere choreographed by Eryc Taylor.

“We love meeting new dancers, working again with ones who have returned from years past, and saluting legends in the industry. It’s a great experience for us as well as for those who attend,” he added.

The Actors Fund’s mission is to “foster stability and resiliency, and provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals over their lifespan.” The organization, which was established in 1882, serves all professionals in film, theater, television, music, opera, radio and dance, offering a variety of serves, such as emergency financial assistance, affordable housing, health care and insurance counseling, senior care, secondary career development and more.

Dancers For Good begins at 7 p.m., and there will be an After-Party following the performances where attendees can meet the evening’s stars.

Tickets start at $150.

Guild Hall is located at 158 Main Street in East Hampton. For more information, visit dancersforgood.org.