*“Sing Cinderella Sing,” a new musical that mixes the traditional fairy tale with “American Idol” (where the wicked stepsisters vie for the attention of a rich music producer to win a singing contest), will be staged in Los Angeles at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center (4718 W. Washington Blvd.) on July 8 at 8 p.m. Broadway sensation Desiree “Dez” Coleman Jackson stars as Cinderella, while Kenny Lattimore and KJLH-FM personality Tammi Mac serve as hosts. Tickets range from $24 to $82. Visit www.nhpac.com or call the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center at 323-964-9768 for more info. Proceeds will benefit the Little Princess Foundation (http://littleprincessfoundation.org); the Distinguished Gentlemen Organization (http://dg4life.org) and the Girl Blue Project (http://thegirlblueproject.org).
*“The Color Purple” is among several current Broadway productions offering special performances to benefit the Actors’ Fund of America, a non-profit organization that provides for the social welfare of all entertainment professionals. “Purple’s” benefit performance will take place at 7 p.m. on July 11 at its home, the Broadway Theatre. Tickets are available by calling (212) 221-7300, ext. 133. For more information visit www.actorsfund.org.
*Hip Hop exec Damon Dash teams with Pro-Keds for "Pro-Keds Day," an event to be held July 1 as part of a celebrity basketball game taking place during New York’s Kingdome Basketball Tournament. During the event, Dash will distribute new limited edition "Kingdome" Pro-Keds. Ron Artest and Francisco Garcia of the Sacramento Kings, Rafer Alston of the Houston Rockets and Sebastian Telfair of the Portland Trailblazers are among the athletes scheduled to attend.
*Hootie & the Blowfish will begin a 10-city concert series Monday in Nashville to help collect school supplies for children. Ticketholders for the Homegrown Concert Series are encouraged to bring along school supplies, which will be donated to each community's public school system. At each stop, a business or organization within the town will make a donation to the schools. In Nashville, the Hard Rock Cafe will donate $5,000 to LP Pencil Box, a school supply center where teachers can get supplies for students who can't afford them.
*Common is scheduled to headline Rise: London United, described as Europe's largest anti-racism festival. The free event, to be held July 8 in London’s Finsbury Park, is organized by London Mayor Ken Livingstone to combat racism and celebrate diversity in the city. The concert is being staged with the National Assembly Against Racism and TUC, South East Region. The show will also feature winners of the London United London poetry slam, selected by The Poetry Society and the Mayor of Livingstone earlier this year.