MEDIA  CONTACT:  

Jean  Larson  Steck  Work:  314-­‐720-­‐7706  

Mobile:  314-­‐489-­‐6211  Email:  Jean@varietystl.org  

   

 

HARRY  CONNICK,  JR.!  Renaissance  man  of  stage,  screen  and  song:  28  million  albums  sold,  three  Grammys,  two  

Emmys,  &  one  megawatt  personality  to  Headline  Variety’s  Dinner  with  the  Stars    

St.  John  Pre-­‐Fall  Collection  the  Highlight  of  Runway  Lights  Fashion  Show  

   

St.  Louis  (Feb.  27)  –  Variety  the  Children’s  Charity  of  St.  Louis  celebrates  over  80  years  of  helping  St.  

Louis  kids  with  disabilities  this  April  as  Variety  Week  kicks  off  with  the  Runway  Lights  Fashion  Show  

(April  26),  continues  with  the  Fox  2/News  11  Help  a  Variety  Kid  Day,  Imo’s  for  Kids  Day,  and  ends  with  

the  two  most  anticipated  social  events  of  the  year,  the  Young  Variety  Night  of  the  Rising  Stars  (May  1)  

and  the  Dinner  with  the  Stars  black  tie  gala  (May  3).    Variety  is  

pleased  to  announce  that,  master  of  musical  styles  and  “  

American  Idol”  star—Harry  Connick,  Jr.  will  headline  at  the  

Dinner  with  the  Stars!    The  dinner  and  concert  will  be  held  at  

the  Peabody  Opera  House,  and  also  for  the  third  time  the  

entire  cost  will  be  underwritten  by  World  Wide  Technology,  

and  The  Steward  Family  Foundation,  meaning  all  the  money  

raised  will  go  to  the  kids.    Variety  Week  is  the  pillar  fundraising  

and  awareness  campaign  for  the  charity.  

 

“Harry  Connick,  Jr.  will  bring  his  unique  performance  style  to  Dinner  with  the  Stars,”  said  Jan  Albus,  

Variety  CEO.    “We’re  extremely  excited  to  welcome  a  superstar  like  Harry  Connick,  Jr.  to  the  Variety  

family,  and  what  better  place  to  hear  him  sing  than  the  amazing  acoustics  of  the  Peabody.”      

 

A  born  entertainer,  decorated  in  nearly  every  field  of  performance  arts,  Harry  Connick,  Jr.  is  a  man  of  

many  talents.  While  best  known  for  his  intelligent  critique  that  has  revitalized  the  original  spirit  of  the  

"American  Idol"  judge's  panel,  Connick  has  authored  a  richly  diverse  career  in  the  worlds  of  music,  film,  

television  and  theatre.    

 

His  solo  albums,  covering  a  dazzling  array  of  genres  from  jazz  to  pop  to  R&B,  have  sold  more  than  28  

million  copies.  He's  also  the  winner  of  three  Grammys,  two  Emmys  and  a  two-­‐time  Tony  nominee.  A  

precocious  jazz  pianist  from  age  5,  Connick  broke  through  to  mass  acclaim  with  his  1989  soundtrack  

album  to  the  beloved  romantic  comedy  "When  Harry  Met  Sally…"  His  big  band  renditions  of  great  

American  standards  earned  him  multi-­‐platinum  success  and  his  first  of  many  Billboard  No.  1  Jazz  

Albums.  

 

Connick's  film  career  has  included  top  blockbusters  and  winning  children's  films,  animated  features  and  

romantic  dramas.  In  addition  to  sold-­‐out  Broadway  concert  runs,  he's  also  made  several  leading  turns  in  

Broadway  musicals.  

 Connick  is  also  a  tireless  advocate  for  his  hometown  of  New  Orleans,  and  has  been  deeply  involved  in  

recovery  efforts  following  Hurricane  Katrina.  

 

Dinner  with  the  Stars  caps  off  a  full  week  of  Variety  events:  

• Variety  Week  starts  Saturday,  April  26,  at  the  Chase  Park  Plaza  with  the  Runway  Lights  Fashion  

Show,  where  for  the  first  time  Variety  will  present  a  New  York  style  runway  fashion  show  

featuring  the  pre-­‐fall  collection  St.  John.      

• Notable  women  of  the  world  wear  St.  John,  from  Hillary  Rodham  Clinton,  and  Ann  Romney  to  

Oprah  Winfrey  and  Glen  Close.    St.  John  designers  have  custom  designed  three  dresses  and  a  

vest  for  Variety  kids  who  will  model.  

• The  Variety  Children’s  Chorus  will  perform,  and  the  Ameren  PowerKids  will  hit  the  runway  in  

their  power  wheelchairs.    Fox  2’s  Sandy  Miller  will  emcee.  

• The  Week  continues  on  Tuesday,  April  29,  with  the  Fox  2/News  11  Help  a  Variety  Kid  Day.      

• Wednesday,  April  30,  will  be  Imo’s  for  Kids  Day.    Imo’s  Pizza  will  offer  at  least  10  percent  of  

profits  of  all  sales  of  the  Square  Beyond  Compare  on  this  day  to  Variety.    This  annual  event  

traditionally  raises  six  figures  for  the  children’s  charity.  

• Young  Variety’s  Night  of  the  Rising  Stars  will  take  place  on  Thursday,  May  1,  at  The  Pageant.  

• Dinner  with  the  Stars  will  be  held  May  3rd.This  year  marks  Marilyn  Fox’s  17th  year  as  Dinner  with  

the  Stars  Chairman.    This  year  Variety  will  honor  Ameren  Corporation  CEO  and  Chairman,  Tom  

Voss  as  Variety’s  Man  of  the  Year  and  Lelia  Farr  as  Variety’s  Woman  of  the  Year.    Last  year’s  

Dinner  with  the  Stars,  featuring  singer  Santana  raised  a  record-­‐breaking  $1.9  million  for  Variety.      

 

In  2013,  Variety  Week  raised  $4.7  million  for  St.  Louis  children  with  physical  and  developmental  

disabilities.    Every  dollar  raised  during  Variety  Week  stays  in  St.  Louis  to  purchase  vital  medical  

equipment  and  fund  specialized  programs  for  the  more  than  14,500  families  Variety  serves  each  

year.  

 

About  Variety  the  Children’s  Charity  of  St.  Louis  

Since  1932,  Variety  the  Children’s  Charity  serves  children  with  physical  and  developmental  

disabilities  in  the  St.  Louis  region,  from  infancy  to  age  21.  Variety  focuses  on  five  core  areas  to  

help  kids  become  independent  and  productive:  gifting  medical  equipment  for  mobility  and  

independence;  developing  unique  education  and  recreational  programs;  funding  therapy,  and  

Sunshine  Coach  Vans.  Variety  partners  with  75  agencies  to  support  programs  and  give  

scholarships  that  directly  impact  the  lives  of  Variety  children.    For  more  information,  visit  

www.varietystl.org.