Celebrities stage Clinton fundraiser
NEW YORK — Hollywood and Broadway stars, including Julia Roberts, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Hugh Jackman, Emily Blunt, Neil Patrick Harris and Helen Mirren, put on a splashy fundraiser for Hillary Clinton.
The Democratic candidate could only address the group via video message Monday evening. But daughter Chelsea and husband Bill were present at the sold-out event at the 1,300 seat St. James Theatre.
Billy Crystal was host and Barbra Streisand lent her recorded voice to the show.
The event alternated performances with readings or short speeches. Angela Bassett recited a Sojourner Truth speech, and Julia Roberts read a column by Molly Ivins.
Crystal kicked off the night by cracking that it was the greatest collection of Broadway and Hollywood stars since liberal-leaning producer “Harvey Weinstein’s daughter’s bat mitzvah.”
Other performances included Josh Groban singing “Over the Rainbow,” Stephen Schwartz and Kelli O’Hara dueting on “For Good” from “Wicked,” Harris reprised his Tony-winning title turn in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” with a powerful rendition of “Origin of Love.”
Tickets ranged from $45 in the rear balcony to $2,700 premium orchestra seats, with bundles of top tickets plus access to a post-event party going for $5,000.
Protesters — one holding a “Clinton 4 Jail” sign — stood across the street. Inside the Clinton event theater, which usually houses the musical “Something Rotten!,” at least one attendee wore an “I’m With Her” top.
