‘Hamilton's' Mandy Gonzalez to perform for Jewish Association on Aging fundraiser
Actress and singer Mandy Gonzalez immediately thought of her late grandmother when asked by the Jewish Association on Aging to perform at its annual fundraiser.
“My ‘Bubbie’ loved music, and she would always sing at the senior center,” said Gonzalez, who will perform a live virtual concert for the Art of Aging benefit “Broadway Under the Stars.” “At 5 years old, she encouraged me to perform. She always believed music brings people together.”
Gonzalez hopes her voice will bring guests on June 24 to Heinz Field’s Gold Parking Lot 1 on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. The event is live, but Gonzalez will perform virtually on a large screen.
The event starts at 6 p.m. The presentation begins around 7 p.m.
There is an at-home view option available to everyone who purchases a ticket. A link will be shared prior to the concert.
Gonzalez will perform on a large screen in a drive-in movie setting. Guests can watch from inside their vehicles or bring lawn chairs to sit outside.
Cost is $150. A patron ticket is $200. Both include a food and drink cooler. Student tickets are $35. Tickets can be purchased here.
The event benefits the JAA’s services for southwestern Pennsylvania seniors such as residential living, memory care, rehabilitation, home health care, hospice and palliative care and home-delivered meals.
Gonzalez, who was in “Hamilton” on Broadway, the television show “Madam Secretary” and the Tony Award-winning show, “In the Heights,” will sing Broadway and pop tunes.
Gonzalez grew up in Saugus, Calif. Her career took her to Brooklyn N.Y. She lives in New Jersey. She recalled watching old musicals with her grandmother , Marie Carriere, who died at age 97 in 2019.
“It is so important to not forget about our seniors, and we need to watch out for them,” Gonzalez said. “So many of us realized how much we missed them this past year not being able to see them (because of the pandemic).”
The pandemic has been a challenge professionally and personally for Gonzalez. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2019 and had surgery and treatment while still performing in “Hamilton” until Broadway shut down.
She continued cancer treatment through part of the pandemic and wasn’t able to see her parents for 14 months.
“Getting through cancer you experience the power of human love,” she said. “And you learn about what really matters.”
Gonzalez said she loves the drive-in movie aspect of the event.
The last Art of Aging event was two years ago. The pandemic prevented the event from happening in 2020.
“After all that has happened since then, we just can’t wait to get together again and look ahead toward to what’s next for JAA,” said JAA president & CEO Deborah Winn-Horvitz. “While hosting this event outdoors with Mandy Gonzalez performing live via streaming video keeps health and safety a priority, it also gives us a chance to have some fun too.”
Gonzalez, 42, recalled her first time in Pittsburgh. At age 19, she was a back-up singer for Bette Midler during a concert here.
“I love Pittsburgh,” Gonzalez said. “It was cold and being from California I didn’t bring a jacket. So I went to the Burlington Coat Factory Downtown and bought one.”
With Broadway shut down, actors and actresses searched for other ways to be on stage.
“We had to pivot as performers,” said Gonzalez, whose Jewish and Mexican heritages introduced her to music from both cultures. “So I decided to do some virtual concerts. These concerts were a way to still connect with people.”
Just like grandma always said.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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