ONCO-BALLET™ FOUNDATION JOINS FORCES WITH MATT DEANGELIS' FOURTH ANNUAL THE JANICE JAM: BROADWAY FOR BREAST CANCER
BROADWAY STARS AMBER ARDOLINO, BRENT COMER, KERI RENÉ FULLER, MCKENZIE KURTZ, KARA LINDSAY, DONALD WEBBER JR., AND MORE…
FUNDING METASTATIC BREAST CANCER RESEARCH
BENEFITING THE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION
MONDAY, MAY 4
SONY HALL & STREAMING LIVE ON PLAYBILL.COM
New York, NY – April 13, 2026: The fourth annual Matt DeAngelis' THE JANICE JAM: BROADWAY FOR BREAST CANCER proudly announces the Onco-Ballet™ Foundation as a featured partner and on-stage participant for its landmark evening 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). The event will also stream live on Playbill.com.
Onco-Ballet™ is a pioneering movement-based program that harnesses the therapeutic and expressive power of ballet for individuals living with cancer. By merging the artistry of dance with the very real human experience of a cancer diagnosis, Onco-Ballet™ offers patients, survivors, and thrivers a profound avenue for healing, resilience, and joy. Their participation in The Janice Jam marks a powerful alignment of mission: both organizations believe in the transformative capacity of the performing arts to uplift those affected by breast cancer and inspire action toward a cure.
At this year's event, the Onco-Ballet™ Foundation will take the stage alongside Broadway's finest, bringing their signature blend of grace, strength, and storytelling to an evening already defined by celebration, remembrance, and awareness. Their appearance underscores the broadening community that The Janice Jam has built since its founding in 2023 — one that reaches beyond Broadway to embrace every corner of the fight against metastatic breast cancer.
“It is a true honor for Onco-Ballet to join this year’s Janice Jam! The representation of both metastatic thrivers and those who have faced early breast cancer reflects the strength and unity of this community. Through movement and connection, our work directly supports those living with cancer, while partnerships that advance research help ensure more tomorrows. Hand in hand, we are building a future where we move through breast cancer together”- Anna Wassman-Cox, Founder and Executive Director of the Onco-Ballet Foundation
THE JANICE JAM channels the magic of Broadway to honor those we've lost, uplift those still fighting, and fund critical research. Founded by Broadway performer Matt DeAngelis (Swept Away) in loving memory of his mother, Janice, who passed away from metastatic breast cancer in 2022, the event curates an unforgettable evening of Celebration, Remembrance, and Awareness. 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 — every ticket purchased and every dollar raised fuels the science that gives patients more time and more hope.
Amber Ardolino, Omar Cardona, Brent Comer, Lissa deGuzman, Christine Dwyer, Keri René Fuller, McKenzie Kurtz, Kara Lindsay, Donald Webber Jr., and more will take the stage, with musical direction by Benjamin Rauhala (Disney Princess – The Concert). The evening's band features Yair Evnine (Guitar/Cello), Rich Mercurio (Drums), Lee Nadel (Bass), and Meg Toohey (Guitar), with DJ Mike Borowski leading the afterparty alongside additional performers from STAGE TIME.
Kara Lindsay (Once Upon a Mattress, Romy & Michele: The Musical) will be recognized with the second-annual Fighting Flamingo Award, commemorating her fight against breast cancer and her work helping to find a cure. Stage IV breast cancer thriver Tami Eagle Bowling (The Eagle Method) will also share her story of resilience from the stage.
A limited number of General Admission Table Seating are available at $100 per person, with access to a full menu of cocktails and food available for purchase. Tickets are available at ticketweb.com.
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. Coverage will feature stories, video segments, and a call to action for donations to BCRF.
The event is Executive Produced by DeAngelis, Christine Dwyer, and Bryan Campione (I Was a Teenage She-Devil), with Tami Eagle Bowling, Kim Blair, Christine Ward (BCRF), Nzinga Williams (Masquerade), and PJ Adzima (The Book of Mormon/STAGE TIME) as Producers. Associate Producers include Alex Temple Ward, Katie Michelle Stahl, Larkin Bogan (Wicked), Ember Productions (Maxwell Haddad and Amber Coates), and Isaac Evans. Jen Ash (What a Wonderful World, CATS: The Jellicle Ball at PAC) serves as Production Stage Manager, with Alice M. Pollitt (Titanique) as Assistant Stage Manager and Madeline O'Hara and Imani Denson-Pittman as Production Associates. Publicity by Katie Rosin, Kampfire; videographers Arthur Knox and Brad Wagner; photographers Michael Hull and Shawn Salley. Merchandising art by David Winters. Additional Playbill Media support from Joshua Stone, Len Rodino, Jennifer Marinelli, Dean Greer, Jon Goldman, David Gewirtzman, Robbie Rozelle, and the Playbill editorial team.
On-site event support thanks to partners and sponsors, including Playbill, Paramount Times Square – a Generator Hotel, Clarins, Sony Hall, STAGE TIME, Kampfire, Hurley's Saloon, and Masquerade New York City.
Why Metastatic Breast Cancer?
Unlike early-stage breast cancer, Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) — also referred to as Stage IV — indicates that 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 approximately 115 lives to this disease.
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.
About Onco-Ballet Foundation
The Onco-Ballet Foundation was established in November 2023 by Anna Wassman-Cox, a former professional ballerina and two-time young breast cancer survivor. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Irvine, Calif., Onco-Ballet Foundation provides free or low-cost ballet classes and performance opportunities to the cancer community, funded through donor support and partnerships with healthcare institutions. Its mission is to spark joy, facilitate healing and foster self-expression while easing the financial burden for those facing cancer. Since its launch, the nonprofit has served more than 2,000 participants with the support of 13 trained instructors across California, New York, and Seattle. To learn more, participate, or support the organization, visit https://oncoballet.org/.
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Onco-Ballet Foundation
Anna Wassman-Cox is a 2x young breast cancer survivor first diagnosed at 25 years old, former professional ballet dancer, and the Founder and Executive Director of the Onco-Ballet Foundation. Anna has expertise in trauma-informed ballet movement for cancer patients and specializes in the BrainDance methodology to improve brain and body connection. She is also an advocate for the Asian American breast cancer community and served as the co-facilitator on the first AANHPI (Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander) support group for breast cancer survivors and thrivers with the Young Survival Coalition. Anna has been featured on ABC7, CBS, The Jennifer Hudson Show, Drew Barrymore Show, LA Times OC Daily Pilot, People Magazine, Today, the Jam TV show, Better Homes and Gardens, Orange County Business Journal, Wildfire Magazine and more.
IG: @annamazingjourney / @oncoballet
Avamarie Warden, a dancer, model, and speaker, Avamarie is a metastatic breast cancer thriver dedicated to advocacy, visibility, and community. Diagnosed at 34, she channels her resilience into storytelling that empowers others and amplifies the urgent need for research and support, working with leading cancer organizations through speaking engagements and creative campaigns. A dynamic presence on stage and in front of the camera, her artistry is rooted in dance and self-expression. Avamarie lives with intention, gratitude, and a fierce commitment to advocating for a better future for the metastatic breast cancer community. IG: @avamarie
Sally Joy Wolf is an eight-year metastatic breast cancer thriver who empowers others to flourish as an inspirational speaker, corporate wellbeing advisor and patient advocate. Her work combines her two decades as a media industry executive, her lived experience with uncertainty, and her deep expertise in positive psychology to provide individuals and teams with the tools to flourish in work and in life. Sally is also a LinkedIn Top Voice who has shared her story in media outlets such as Cosmopolitan, Oprah Daily, and GMA. She has always been passionate about how our stories connect us; she launched an incubator at Time Warner to invest in diverse, innovative voices, championing the next generation of storytellers. A former camp counselor, Sally still infuses childlike wonder, creativity, and community into everything she does, especially her adventures with her nephew and nieces. She is especially excited to be a part of the Onco-Ballet performance tonight as the story of how she (pole!) danced her way through cancer is featured in a Netflix documentary. Follow her on LinkedIn, through her website or on IG: @sallyshoots
Laya Ballesteros is an arts practitioner, educator, and teaching mentor with over 20 years of experience across public, private, independent, and international schools. Her practice focuses on student voice and social-emotional learning through student-centered art programs. Diagnosed with hormone-positive breast cancer in 2017 and later with metastatic breast cancer in 2023, she transforms her lived experience through her personal art practice and movement, performing with Onco-Ballet in Dance Against Cancer at New York City Center. IG: @pantsonfiya17
Caileigh Scott , actor, writer, movement artist, and breast cancer survivor, thrilled to be dancing with Onco-Ballet. Most recently she performed with the Resistance Revival Chorus at Carnegie Hall and in Voices & Visions with Alvin Ailey. Other theatre credits include Three Sisters (Masha), Twelfth Night (Olivia), Six Characters in Search of an Author (Stepdaughter), The Importance of Being Earnest (Gwendolen). TV/Film: Saturday Night Live, Mélange, CSI, Madam Secretary, Love-40. IG: @caileighscott
Alexis Taylor is honored to be a member of the Onco-Ballet Foundation and performing at this year's Janice Jam. A mother, sister, auntie, friend. A pursuer of simple pleasures - always, but especially while dealing with a recurrence of triple negative breast cancer. Dancing with Onco-Ballet is a discovered, treasured pleasure, while also a source of healing: allowing her to reconnect, relearn, and accept her changed body and its abilities. With support and love within the community, new strengths are found and joy abounds! Movement is medicine. Fund research. Stage 4 NEEDS MORE! Let’s find a cure! Psalm 30:11
IG: @blu_eyed_child
Elizabeth Laberge is thrilled to be performing with Onco-Ballet at this year’s Janice Jam. I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer while on maternity leave with a baby and a toddler, and one of the side effects of my cancer diagnosis was that I would never return to my career as a music teacher and musician. Onco-Ballet has given me the space and opportunity to return to some of my artistic roots and rebuild my grace and trust in my own body. Four years ago, I could never have dreamed I would still be here and dancing! IG: @justelizabit
