Manley Pope-unplugged: A fundraiser for the GVSU Theatre Program

In conjunction with his current direction of RENT, Manley Pope will also give a solo concert to benefit the theatre program at Grand Valley.

RENT, a co-production between Grand Valley State University and Heritage Theatre Group, opens at Grand Valley's Louis Armstrong Theatre, Performing Arts Center, Allendale Campus, on November 13.

The benefit, "Manley Pope - unplugged" is planned for Monday, November 16, at 7:30 p.m., in the Cook-Dewitt Center, Allendale Campus. The program will feature a terrific night of singing by the talented Broadway star Pope, who played the role of Roger in RENT's first national tour and on Broadway.

Pope divides his time between New York, Nashville and Los Angeles and a myriad of artistic projects as a singer, composer and director. While performing on Broadway alongside Joey Fatone of N'Sync, and touring America with Roger Daltrey of The Who, Pope continues to garner critical acclaim for his own music, selling out shows from New York City to Los Angeles. He also led the pre-Broadway productions of Miramax's ALL SHOOK UP and The Public Theater's THE UNKNOWN.

Pope has also starred in films, such as the festival favorite FEEDING THE MACHINE (Digidance Best Picture) and Paramount's music industry satire, MARCI X, opposite Lisa Kudrow and Damon Wayans.

Suggested benefit donation: $10 students/seniors; $20 public/faculty/staff. For more information on the benefit and RENT performance, call (616) 331-2300, or visit www.gvsu.edu/theatre.