Wednesday, January 05, 2011

Clay Aiken, Fans Applaud Pepsi Win, Broadway Event


Clay Aiken and the Clay Nation are in celebratory mode this week.
Clickable graphic by AmazingCA,Timeless Tour photos by Invisible926.

NIP Wins $50k Pepsi Grant

Fans Celebrate Broadway, Award

Throughout Clay Cyberspace, it's party time!

Clay Aiken will return to Broadway for a special performance on Feb. 7, and the National Inclusion Project, the charity the singer co-founded with Diane Bubel in 2003 is the #1 finalist for a $50k grant in December's Pepsi Refresh Challenge.

Three days after the Broadway performance Clay begins the Tried & True Tour in Miami, FL, ending in San Francisco 22 concerts later.

The singer posted his appreciation and bravos in a blog at his official fan club site: Huge thanks on the opting for Pepsi Refresh. You guys really came through in a big way!


Although the Pepsi winners won't officially be announced until Jan. 23, the Inclusion Project looks mighty fine atop the winners' circle.


Double click on this image to view all December finalists,
many of which partnered with the NIP via reciprocal voting.

Officially, the four-month drive to obtain funding for the Inclusion Project is finished. However, just as previously funded charities did for the NIP, many supporters are continuing to vote for the alliances and partners that helped put the Project in the December winner's circle.

The Thank You Widget below contains the NIP alliances and partners still in the running. Voting only takes a few minutes if you copy/paste the same comment for each. I remember how touched we were when former winners returned to help the NIP with voting.

Below is a possible comment:
The National Inclusion Project is voting for you daily. Thank you for helping us win in December. Good luck this month!

Designed by Scarlett, the widget will remain in the Carolina blog's sidebar throughout January. Supporters can also access the links/text numbers at the widget's home base.


Spamalot graphic by cindilu2 captures current Broadway excitement.

Singer Slated for 'Broadway Backwards'

Clay Aiken (Spamalot), HBO's "True Blood" star Denis O'Hare (Tony winner for Take Me Out) and Tony winner Alan Cumming (Cabaret, CBS's "The Good Wife") join a line-up of performers in BROADWAY BACKWARDS 6 for a star-studded, one-night only event at the Longacre Theatre in New York City on Monday, Feb. 7.

Produced by Broadway Cares, the 8 p.m. show will benefit BC/EFA and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of New York City.
BROADWAY BACKWARDS will feature some of Broadway's biggest names singing songs originally written for the opposite gender: women singing songs written for men and men singing songs written for women.

By keeping all of the lyrics intact, including the original pronouns, each song takes on an entirely new dimension, sometimes with hysterical results and sometimes with immensely touching results.

BROADWAY BACKWARDS will give its audience a chance to see and hear some of the most treasured songs of the Great White Way in a whole new key.

BROADWAY BACKWARDS began as a grassroots concert performed at the Center in 2006. In subsequent years, the event grew quickly, performing Off-Broadway at 37 Arts, followed by Roundabout's American Airlines Theatre and last year at Lincoln Center Theater at the Vivian Beaumont.

With more performers to be announced, the current line-up also includes Tituss Burgess (The Little Mermaid), Len Cariou (Tony winner for Sweeney Todd), Kevin Chamberlin (The Addams Family), Robin De Jesus (La Cage aux Folles), Jose Llana (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Lin-Manuel Miranda (Tony winner for In the Heights), Debra Monk (Curtains), Bobby Steggert (Ragtime), Brian Charles Rooney (The Threepenny Opera) and Tony Yazbeck (Gypsy).

Tickets can be ordered
here.
The link includes a Longacre Theatre seating chart. For the complete story, see Broadway Cares.


Photo links to 2008 Debut Weekend Slide Show

The above Spamalot January 2008 Debut Weekend Slide Show features photos by Irishbookgal, Toni7babe, Scrpkym, Solitaire30, Butterflyshine, BigAppleforClay, as well as professional photographers J.Pellegrini, Steven A. Henry, Joan Marsh, and Bruce Glikas.

Have a wonderful week, Clay Nation!

Caro

12 comments:

chel4clay said...

Thank Caro for all the info you bring to one place. It makes it so easy to come here and catch up. Glad to see the widget for voting the alliances. I'll be returning each day to vote and read up on whats new.

ImGranny said...

Thanks for the blog. I love that you have the Widget on the side to make it easier for those that want to continue voting for our alliances and partners that helped us win. Hopefully some of them will win this month. I will be voting every day!

I'm excited about Clay performing on Broadway Feb. 7 and can't wait to see what he is going to sing.

It won't be long now till the Tried & True Tour starts! Fun times ahead!

claysweetea said...

I love coming here to find all your great blogs and beautiful visuals. How convenient to have the widgets!

What date and time is that last photo of Clay in Spam from? He has such a beautiful heart.

Anonymous said...

Caro, you do such an awesome job of keeping us all up to date with what is happening with our guy Clay Aiken.

Yeah, we did it!!! It is now time for us to help others. Thank You for the wiglet, you make it so easy for us.

Not much longer, and the tour will be starting, and I can not wait.

Thank You again for everything!!

Hugs,
Marlyne

Anonymous said...

Always enjoy your efforts to keep Us updated,U do a awesome job!! Thank U! D. in Wi.

Anonymous said...

An awesome blog you have here bringing to us all the latest update on OMC :))

Thank you Caro.

barb 55 said...

It's wonderful to hear about Clay performing on Broadway in February. I'm sure it will be a treat for anyone attending the show that night.

Woohoo for the NIP's win at the Pepsi Challenge! Congrats to Clay and the NIP!

Thanks for the widget to make voting easier and for all you do!

Love and hugs,
Barbara :-)

Anonymous said...

Boo Hoo, another event I can't get to. I love to hear that he's performing again, even though I can't see it. Some lucky fans will be there, and hopefully we'll see part of it. Thanks Dianne! Lois

Sandy said...

Looks like 2011 is getting off to a good start! First the NIP getting the $50,000 and now Clay performing at the Great White Way again. Should be interesting to hear what he is going to sing! Hope we get Clack!
How nice for the Clay fans to continue voting for the alliances that got the NIP to #1! I am sure they will be very grateful!
Time to get back to the grind, but WOO HOO it's Friday!!
Have a wonderful weekend!

Sandy

anaturegirl said...

Thanks for having the Widget on your site. Makes it easier to vote for all those who helped get NIP to Number 1 in December.

Looking forward to Clay being back on Broadway and supporting such a great cause.

Unknown said...

The "Thank You" widget speaks volumes about the kind and considerate nature of Clay's many dedicated fans. I think it will forever be remembered by the helpful groups who participated in December's amazing win.

Thank You for "Playing it Forward".

T said...

Thanks so much for your fantastic blog and it made me smile to see the main graphic. You keep me updated with Clay and it's good to know that he's going back to Broadway. That's awesome! I also love the graphic of Cindy. It brings back so much wonderful memories of Spamalot.

Again, many thanks and appreciate your wonderful blogs especially with the updates on Clay. I've been so busy and rely on you always.

Have a nice weekend.

((Hugs))
T