Arts & Entertainment

Ticket Giveaway! Idina Menzel Headlines Musical Moments For MS

Guess the correct answer to our Clark-Garwood trivia question and you could win a pair of tickets.

When Lee Kushner was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, an incurable disease of the central nervous system, in 1993, she didn’t talk about it. No one did back then. Instead, she and her husband, Murray, who were already known for their philanthropic actions, decided to raise money to find a cure for MS. 

The Kushners threw a benefit in November 1998 and organized the first Musical Moments for MS. To date, Musical Moments for MS has grossed more than $10 million and has funded two endowed chairs at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), both dedicated to advancing MS research and treatment.

“We are grateful to our supporters whose generosity has improved and or spared the lives of so many,” says Murray Kushner. “We look forward to another successful event.”

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Over the years, the shows have featured entertainers such as Bette Midler, Linda Ronstadt, Bernadette Peters, Donna Summer, and this year, Broadway superstar Idina Menzel. 

The last Musical Moments event, in 2009, supported much needed research and funded all of the MS Centers in the State of New Jersey: CentraState Medical Center, Holy Name Hospital, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Saint Barnabas Medical Center, and UMDNJ.

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“Musical Moments is a spectacular evening that has an enormous impact on people who are living with Multiple Sclerosis,” says Jim Roberts, President of the New Jersey Metro Chapter of the MS Society. “Advances in research are moving us closer to stopping the disease, restoring function and ending MS forever. It has moved from being an untreatable disease in 1993 to a treatable one today for the vast majority of people now diagnosed, thanks to funds raised from events like Musical Moments.”

Idina Menzel, this year’s headliner, has a dazzling career that spans stage, film, TV and music. Backed by the Musical Moments Symphony Orchestra, she will perform her diverse repertoire of classic pop and musical theater favorites, including hits from her starring roles in “Wicked” and “Rent,” along with songs from her album, “I Stand,” and other selections chosen especially for the event. 

The New York Times praised a recent live show, noting she’s “an entertainer with a phenomenal voice … Diana Ross with 10 times the stamina and lung power.”  Proceeds from this concert, sponsored by WCBS-FM, will support research, New Jersey MS Wellness Centers and MS Clinics as well as critical programs for people living with MS and their families.

For information about Musical Moments or to purchase benefit tickets, please call Musical Moments for MS Headquarters at (908) 781-8418 or email at MusicforMS@omealia.com. For tickets without a reception, which range from $15 to $125 please contact 1-888-GO-NJPAC or visit www.njpac.org

Patch Contest

Musical Moments for MS is a benefit concert by Idina Menzel to raise money for the NJ Metro Chapter of the National MS Society. Now YOU can win tickets to the Musical Moments for MS show on Thursday, June 2 at NJPAC at 7:30 p.m. Just send us an email with your name, phone number and the answer to this trivia question:

Arthur L. Johnson High School was named in honor of Dr. Arthur L. Johnson, the state educator who helped found the Union County Regional High School System and died shortly before the school was completed.

What year did Johnson die? Was it 1950, 1952 or 1955? 

Send your email to: jessica.remo@patch.com. In the subject line, type “MS Concert Tickets.” 

All entries must be received NO LATER than 12 noon Eastern Time on May 28, 2011.  This contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia who are 18 and older. You may only enter once. One winner per Patch will be selected in a random drawing. One (1) Grand Prize Winner will receive two tickets to see Musical Moments For MS. Approximate retail value of the tickets: $70. Transportation to/from the show is NOT included in the prize and will be the responsibility of the winner. 


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