Who’s who of Chicagoland musical theatre gather as ‘Second City Divas’ Sept. 9 at Mercury to benefit Season of Concern

In a one-night-only opportunity to see Chicago’s leading ladies of musical theatre on stage together, Season of Concern (SOC) presents “Second City Divas—In Concert,” a benefit performance Monday, September 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue. Season of Concern is the Chicago theatre community’s fundraising effort to provide financial assistance to those in the community impacted by illness, injury or circumstance.
 
A virtual “who’s who” of Chicago’s musical theatre, the performers who have committed to date include:
 
Roberta Duchak (also musical director)

Cheryl Avery
Kelly Clark
Ariane Dolan
Mary Ernster
Lara Filip
Kitty Fishman
Linda Fortunato
Cory Goodrich
Anne Gunn
Heidi Kettenring
Tammy Mader
Kim Mallory
Susie McMonagle
Johanna McKenzie Miller
Susan Moniz
Liz Pazik
Hollis Resnik
Peggy Roeder
Sharon Sacks
MaryBeth Samuelson
Jill Shellabarger
Cathy Smitko
Linda Waner

For the past six years, Joseph Jefferson Award-winning actress, singer and songwriter Cory Goodrich and Joseph Jefferson Award-winning musical director Eugene Dizon have produced a CD of holiday music featuring a wide range of Chicago talent as a fundraising opportunity for SOC. Managing Director Michael Ryczek said, “Rather than offering a CD of holiday music, this year Cory and Eugene will produce a ‘live’ recording of this once-in-a-lifetime event. We are so grateful to Cory, Eugene and the Divas for their longtime support of our fundraising goals.”

Mercury Theater Chicago is a major sponsor of this event.
 
Created 32 years ago, Season of Concern has raised more than $3 million to benefit hundreds of people in the entertainment industry—actors, directors, designers, technicians, playwrights—who are unable to work due to illness, injury or circumstance, as well as offer support to more than 35 Chicago-based AIDS direct-care service organizations. SOC also provides sustaining support to the Chicago office of The Actors Fund, the national human services organization that helps entertainment and performing arts professionals in theatre, film, music, opera, television and dance through a broad spectrum of social, health, employment and housing programs that address their essential and critical needs.