Somers Point Benefit Concert Will Support 3 Cancer Organizations

SOMERS POINT, NJ — Gateway Playhouse of Somers Point will host Concert for a Cure on June 28, a three-part fundraising show benefiting the American Cancer Society, Gilda’s Club of Linwood and Wigs & Wishes by Martino Cartier of Sewell.

The event is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, June 28, at the playhouse, 738 Bay Ave. in Somers Point.

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The concert will feature three original musical acts: Tide ll Moon, a Philadelphia-based indie rock band formed by Drexel University film students; Steven Lemon, a South Jersey indie pop, rock and folk artist; and Rachel Burghen, a South Jersey crossover artist who will perform with Brian Conover on piano. According to a press release, Burghen is spearheading the fundraiser.

Burghen said her reasons for creating the event are personal.

“Every person I’ve ever lost has been to some form of this disease (cancer), including my grandmother, who was my biggest supporter and encouraged me to sing,” Burghen said.

Burghen began singing at senior centers that her grandmother would take her to when she was a small child. She later studied musical theater at Rowan College of South Jersey, Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia and Media Theatre in Media, Pennsylvania. She has had starring roles in “The Music Man,” “Carousel,” “The Sound of Music,” and “Brigadoon,” and that South Jersey audiences recently saw her at the Gateway in “South Pacific” and “Guys and Dolls.”

Burghen is also expected to debut some of her original songs during the fundraiser. According to the announcement, those songs include “Mint Leaves and Flowers,” which she wrote for her grandmother, and a song she wrote with her son, who is also set to perform with her and in Tide II Moon.

Gateway board president Katie Calvi said the theater quickly backed the idea.

“Rachel captivated audiences in both ‘South Pacific’ and our recent production of ‘Guys and Dolls,’ but what we’re even more inspired by is what she is doing for these incredible organizations,” said Calvi. “When she came to us with the idea for this fundraiser, we didn’t hesitate to support her.”

Tickets are $25 and are available at GatewayByTheBay.org and at the Karen S. Sutherland Box Office from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. More information is available at GatewayByTheBay.org.