With a record-tying five Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards, and a long list of other accolades to her name, Audra McDonald is among today’s most highly regarded performers, and she’s coming to Visalia’s L.J. Williams Theater.
Her February 28th concert is a benefit for Hands in the Community – a non-profit organization based in Visalia that provides a variety of services in Tulare and Kings counties. It acts as a network to connect services and resources between those in need and those who can provide a solution.
“There is no charge for our services thanks to the volunteers and 140-plus businesses who have donated over $2 million back into the community,” said HITC Executive Director Lester Moon.
The organization has presented a handful of similar events over the past few years, with the most recent being in January 2013 with Pentatonix, of which Visalian Avi Kaplan is a member. For this 2014 fundraising concert, HITC was hopeful to land another Central Valley-native and was very pleased at the booking of McDonald by Rainmaker Productions – a Visalia-based promotion company. McDonald grew up in Fresno, graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School, and continued on to graduate from Julliard in 1993.
As usual for HITC, this concert will include performances from Visalia Unified High School students. “I am constantly amazed at the talent we have in this community,” said Moon.
“Hands in the Community is all about engaging the community,” he continued, “and helping to make it better for everyone.”
Tickets are available at www.ticketfly.com. For more information, including sponsorship information, contact Moon at hncvisalia@yahoo.com or 625-3822.