THE THANKFUL PROJECT
Two years ago, Wicked’s Jerad Bortz and husband Steven Skeels were in a tragic car accident that left Bortz paralyzed from the chest down. Now, the best of Broadway have participated in an album, THANKFUL: A Benefit Album for Jerad Bortz, which will be available for pre-order beginning Friday, October 23. The album will officially be released on Friday, November 27.
In anticipation, beginning tonight is THE THANKFUL PROJECT, a weekly six-part chat series which will feature a special guest vocalist alongside Bortz and Skeels each week, debuting one of the album’s 22 original songs. The song will be made available for purchase immediately following the episode on iTunes.
The schedule:
Episode #1: Friday, October 23
Featuring Annaleigh Ashford
(“Livin’ In a Fishbowl”)
Episode #2: Friday, October 30
Featuring Andy Karl
(“My Mind”)
Episode #3: Friday, November 6
Featuring Megan Hilty
(“Snowfall”)
Episode #4: Friday, November 13
Featuring Marty Thomas
(“I Love Myself”)
Episode #5: Friday, November 20
Featuring Ben Vereen
(“For Today”)
Episode #6: Friday, November 27
Official Album Release Date
Featuring Steven Skeels and Jerad Bortz
(“Thankful”)
THANKFUL presents 22 original songs written by Skeels and features an impressive lineup of singers, arrangers, orchestrators and musicians. All participants donated their time and award-winning skills to help raise funds for Jerad’s ongoing medical needs, and a portion of proceeds will go to The Actors Fund of America and Canine Companions for Independence (CCI). The organizations supported Bortz after the accident.
The featured vocalists on THANKFUL include Annaleigh Ashford, Shoshana Bean, Stephanie J. Block, Jerad Bortz, Alex Brightman, Breedlove, Lisa Brescia, Norbert Leo Butz, Liz Callaway, Gaelen Gilliland, Jin Ha, Megan Hilty, Cheyenne Jackson, Christopher Jackson, Andy Karl, Beth Leavel, Norm Lewis, Julia Murney, Q. Smith, Ali Stroker, Steven Skeels, Marty Thomas, Katie Thompson, Ryan Vasquez, Ann VanCleave and Ben Vereen.
