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ON A MOONLIT NIGHT...MUSICAL MOMENTS FOR MS
Lee and Murray Kushner, chairs of the third annual "Musical Moments for MS" benefit concert gala, considered canceling the event this year. In the weeks following the September 11 tragedy of the World Trade Center attacks, nothing about life could be described as predictable, comfortable, or uplifting. Yet, the postcard-perfect moon on a clear, warm evening outside the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, NJ, on October 24, was the first indication that a recipe for fund-raising success had fallen perfectly into place. Nearly $1.5 million was raised to benefit multiple sclerosis research at the Neurological Institute of New Jersey at UMDNJ. Ticket-holders were treated to performances by Master of Ceremonies comedian Martin Short (who can sing, too), Tony-Award-winning Broadway diva Bernadette Peters (with her cascade of curls, amazing kewpie doll voice and voluptuous persona), a surprise visit by actor Tony Randall (who led the audience in an emotional rendition of "God Bless America"), and uplifting words from UMDNJ Chair Isabel Miranda and President Stuart D. Cook, MD. Opening the formal program were remarks from MS patient John McCarthy, who said, "Just to walk on the beach would be a treat again" but admits that MS has given him "a better perspective on what is important." Corporate, medical and artistic excellence awards were presented to Kenneth I. Chenault, Chairman and CEO of American Express, Professor Ruth Arnon, PhD, developer of Copaxine®, a drug for the treatment of MS, and international opera star Beverly Sills. At home on stage since age three and a half, Bernadette Peters understands the power of that intimate connection with an audience. Flipping back a stray curl of hair, taking off her shoes, discussing her stunning new dress in a tone of pure "girl talk," lounging atop the grand piano for a song from the movie Dick Tracy, she performed her way through pieces from Broadway shows like Annie Get Your Gun, Sunday in the Park with George, Mack and Mabel, The Goodbye Girl, Gypsy, and Into The Woods. When the time came for one more, her take on "America The Beautiful" put the perfect finishing touch on a fund-raising show that just had to go on.
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