FIGHTING FLAMINGO AWARD WINNER KARA LINDSAY AND MORE BROADWAY STARS ANNOUNCED FOR MATT DEANGELIS' FOURTH ANNUAL

New York, NY – April 20, 2026: Kara Lindsay (Once Upon a Mattress, Romy & Michele: The Musical) will be with honored with the Fighting Flamingo Award, commemorating her fight against Breast Cancer and work in helping to find a cure, at the fourth annual Matt DeAngelis’ THE JANICE JAM: BROADWAY FOR BREAST CANCER on Monday, May 4, 2026, at 7:00 PM (doors open at 6:00 PM) at Sony Hall (225 W 46th St, New York, NY 10019). With musical direction by Benjamin Rauhala (Disney Princess - The Concert), the event will be a powerful evening of song, celebration, and solidarity benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), which funds research for Metastatic Breast Cancer.

Joining the evening in concert are ​ Ari Axelrod, Ashley Bowling, Brent Comer (The Outsiders), Bobby Conte (The Who’s Tommy), Matt DeAngelis (Swept Away), Lissa deGuzman (Wicked), Christine Dwyer (Wicked), Kim Exum (What a Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical), Griefcat, Brittney Johnson (Wicked), Eric Michael Krop (Godspell), McKenzie Kurtz (Schmigadoon!), Kara Lindsay (Once Upon a Mattress), Cassadee Pope (The Voice - Season 3 Champion), Dee Roscioli (Death Becomes Her), Justin Matthew Sargent (Rock of Ages, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark), Donald Webber Jr. (Hamilton), Alyssa Wray (American Idol), plus special onstage moments with Tony Award nominee Norm Lewis (Chicken & Biscuits), Sarrah Strimel Bentley (An American in Paris), and Stage IV breast cancer thriver Tami Eagle Bowling (The Eagle Method) who will also be sharing her story of resilience. Additional participants forthcoming.

Representing Onco-Ballet™ Foundation, performers Alexis Taylor, Anna Wassman, Avamarie Warden, Caileigh Scott, Elizabeth Laberge, Layla Ballesteros, and Sally Joy Wolf will appear on stage.

The evening has musical direction by Benjamin Rauhala (Disney Princess: The Concert) with a band featuring Lee Nadel (Bass), Meg Toohey (Guitar), Rich Mercurio (Drums), and Yair Evnine (Guitar/Cello), and background vocals by Abby Burke, Matthew Carter, and Megan Dwinell.

The evening's entertainment extends well beyond the concert stage, with PJ Adzima’s STAGE TIME adding their exuberant nightlife flair to an environmental performance experience featuring Summer Reign, Effy Knox, and Lydia Wilts, setting the tone as guests arrive. The pre-show will be hosted by Marti Gould Cummings (Drag Me to Dinner), alongside performances by Ty Evans, Beaujangles, Drag Race alum Jackie Cox, and Apocalypse Noir - Andrew Barrett Cox (OSCAR at the Crown), Jan (RuPaul's Drag Race alum), Hayley Moir (OSCAR at the Crown), and Danielle Lussier (OSCAR at the Crown). The Afterglow post-party features Gin Minksy and DJ'd by Mike Borowski, with King Queen as Stage Manager and production assistance from Amanda Gluck.

THE JANICE JAM channels the magic of Broadway to honor those we’ve lost, uplift those still fighting, and fund critical research. Founded in 2023 by Broadway performer Matt DeAngelis (Swept Away) in loving memory of his mother, Janice, who passed away from metastatic breast cancer in 2022, alongside a passionate group of friends and Broadway industry colleagues, THE JANICE JAM curates an unforgettable evening of Celebration, Remembrance, and Awareness each year. The event serves as both a tribute to Janice’s love for theater and a rallying cry for the millions affected by metastatic breast cancer, with 100% of net proceeds supporting research grants through the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), the world’s largest private funder of breast cancer research.

A limited number of Standing Room Only tickets are available at $50 per person HERE, with guests having access to a full menu of cocktails and food for purchase. During the event, attendees will hear stories of survival encouragement and celebrate those past and present with a one-of-a-kind evening of songs from the Best on Broadway.

Be sure to check out Playbill’s coverage of this event, including insights from Broadway artists impacted by breast cancer, at www.Playbill.com/TheJaniceJam. The information will include stories, video segments, and a call to action to donate to BCRF. And this year, the event will live-stream from Sony Hall on Playbill.com on May 4th.

The event is Executive Produced by DeAngelis, and Bryan Campione (I Was a Teenage She-Devil), with Dwyer, Tami Eagle Bowling, Kim Blair, Christine Ward (BCRF), Nzinga Williams (Masquerade), Alex Temple Ward, Katie Michelle Stahl, and PJ Adzima (The Book of Mormon/STAGE TIME) as Producers and Larkin Bogan (Wicked), Ember Productions (Maxwell Haddad and Amber Coates), Jillian Santella (One in a Million Media), and Isaac Evans as Associate Producers. Jen Ash (What a Wonderful World, CATS: The Jellicle Ball at PAC) acts as Production Stage Manager, with Christy Ney (Wicked) as Assistant Stage Manager, Madeline O’Hara, Lane Page, Pandora Sotelo, Olivia Winter and Imani Denson-Pittman as Production Associates, and Cass Fawcett, Lyla Ross and Greta Schwartz as Production Interns.

Publicity for the event is by Katie Rosin and Lara Palazzolo (Kampfire), with videographers Arthur Knox and Brad Wagner, and photographers Michael Hull, and Shawn Salley. Additional Playbill Media support from Joshua Stone, Len Rodino, Jennifer Marinelli, Dean Greer, Diep Tran, Jon Goldman, Heather Gershonowitz, David Gewirtzma,, and the Playbill editorial team. The event program is designed by Robbie Rozelle, with merchandising art by David Winters.

On-site event support is thanks to partners and event sponsors, including Playbill, Paramount Times Square – a Generator Hotel, Clarins, Sony Hall, STAGE TIME, Kampfire, Hurley’s Saloon, ​ Masquerade New York City, New Belgium Brewing, High Noon, Misguided Spirits, Pink Whitney, Ritual Zero Proof, and Schmackary’s.

Why Metastatic Breast Cancer?
​Unlike early-stage breast cancer, Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC), also referred to as Stage IV, indicates that the cancer has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body. While treatments may prolong life, there is currently no cure. Approximately 30% of individuals diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer will eventually experience a recurrence as MBC, and each day, we lose about 115 lives to this disease.

“Every day, approximately 117 lives are lost to metastatic breast cancer, but every day, research is changing that story,” says MBC thriver Tami Eagle Bowling. “The Janice Jam turns music into momentum, funding the science that gives patients more time and more hope.”

Matt DeAngelis, creator of The Janice Jam, adds, “Year four, and we continue growing in heart and memory. We do this event annually for those we’ve lost, those who fight daily, and those who support the path to a cure. This night was created to celebrate my mother, Janice, and has turned into celebrating the millions affected by this disease. #TeamJanice, as we call our unified team of volunteers and staff, are proud to continue building community, advancing research, and honoring love through action.”

​​“The Janice Jam’s continued commitment to BCRF reflects exactly the kind of sustained partnership that moves the needle in breast cancer research,” said BCRF Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Dorraya El-Ashry. “Metastatic breast cancer remains the leading cause of breast cancer deaths, and accelerating progress of patients living with MBC is one of our highest priorities. Through the generosity of partners like The Janice Jam, we are driving the research that will transform outcomes and extend lives for every patient.”

Media Kit with Headshots, 2025 Event Images, and Sizzle Reel
​Event Hash Tag: #TheJaniceJam
​Playbill Event Page: www.playbill.com/thejanicejam
​The Janice Jam Website: www.thejanicejam.com
​The Janice Jam Instagram: www.instagram.com/thejanicejam

About the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF)
​Breast cancer is a complex disease with no simple solution. Research is the key to stopping it in its tracks. Founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder, BCRF is the largest private funder of breast cancer research in the world. By investing in the best minds in science to examine every aspect of the disease from prevention to metastasis—and fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration—BCRF is accelerating the entire field and moves us closer to the answers we urgently need to end breast cancer. Learn more and get involved at BCRF.org.

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