Make Believe on Broadway: Anniversary Gala
WHO: Sir Ian McKellen, Euan Morton, Brad Oscar, Seth Rudetsky, Oklahoma! and The Book of Mormon casts, Founder of OMB, Dena Hammerstein
WHEN: Monday, November 4, 2019 at 7:00 PM
WHERE: Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036
Well, that night was the unexpected night, I remember RSVPing this event because it was a non-profit organization that helps sick kids having this, let’s call it “activity” but what I was not expecting at all, was having this amazing evening full of emotions, performances and honoring those who have put so much effort into making the Only make Believe organization great, to keep expanding and helping more kids.
History of Only Make Believe:
The OMB program debuted in October 1999 at Rusk Institute’s Pediatric Unit, NYU Langone Medical Center, as a project of James and Dena Hammerstein Foundation, Dena Hammerstein established Only Make Believe in memory of her husband James (son of theatre legend Oscar Hammerstein), for his dedication to the theatre and her own passionate love for children in need.
The concept of Only Make Believe developed out of Dena’s desire to introduce children living with chronic illnesses and disabilities to the magical world of theatre. Since trips to the theatre proved to be overwhelming for many of the children, Dena decided to bring the theatre to them, helping to create a unique version of live theatre in which each child plays an integral part in the production. With support and kindness from our supporters, Dena’s dream, in honor of the husband legacy, is now bringing live theatre to children in hospitals and care facilities in both New York and Washington, D.C.
The Honorees:
David Leitch,
David G. Leitch, is the global general counsel for Bank of America, responsible for overseeing the company's legal functions around the world. Based in Charlotte, he is a member of the bank’s executive management team.
Sir Ian Mackellen, Ambassador Theatre Group,
Here at ATG, we are united by our passion for the arts and love of what we do. We work across the entertainment industry around the globe; looking after 50 theatre and music venues in Britain, the US, and Germany; running Britain’s most visited theatre ticketing sites and producing fantastic shows.
Kings County Hospital Center,
Kins County Center- NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County has a rich legacy for its pioneering role in medicine. Today, with over 627 beds, our hospital remains on the cutting edge of technology and provides publicly supported care of the sick, NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County continues to be a leading health care facility whose mission is to provide care to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.
How Dena Hammerstein passes on a theatrical legacy:
Now, 20 years late, her organization Only Make Believe is thriving. Professional actors visit pediatric care centers in 60 hospitals throughout New York and Washington, D.C. Over the course of a six-week cycle, actors visit once a week to perform a new interactive show with the children. There are currently 15 original scripts in their rotation. “Collaboration between the actors and the children is the key to OMB’S continued success. The actors bring an OMB trunk filled with costumes and props made by our volunteers to dress up the kids, “says Hammerstein. “Our primary goal is to make and every child feel special, safe and have fun.”
And, OMG has made a tangible difference in the lives of these youngsters. “The majority of the children we serve, suffer from chronic diseases and physical and psychological disabilities,” Hammerstein says. “They are in hospitals and care facilities and generally have no control regarding their care, development, and day-to-day routines. OMG allows them to simply be kids playing and having fun. Each child takes an active part in creating a world of fantasy and fun that transcends the boundaries of the hospital walls.