In the aftermath of any tragedy, especially one on the scale of the recent near-unthinkable events in Japan, there is at least some comfort to be found in simple fellowship – when people band together to do their part for the survivors. For me, there’s a special comfort when artists do this, using their talents and voices to offer emotion, intepretation, anger, sadness, comfort, and understanding.


Performers from L.A. to New York are now doing their part for Japan, and following last week’s successful benefit events for Japan by The Pasadena Playhouse, and (on the East Coast) Broadway Speaks Out, actress Daisy Eagan is doing her part as well. Eagan has teamed up with James Mooney for “Cabaret Cares: Songs for Japan,” which will take place on Monday night, April 11, 2011, at 8 p.m. at the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood (6725 W. Sunset Boulevard ). The event is being held in assoociation with the Catalina Jazz Club, in a one-night-only event whose proceeds will support the Japanese Business Association Foundation (JBA). The Japanese Business Association Foundation is working directly with the Japanese Consulate to ensure that the money raised at the benefit goes directly to those working on the ground in Japan during the crisis.

Following my recent blog post about her recent one-woman show in New York City, I spoke with actress and producer Eagan about the event, as well as getting a quick update on what she’s been up to lately.

(Note: In the interest of full disclosure, I did some marketing for “History in the Faking,” a comedy troupe in Los Angeles, and of which Eagan was a member, back in Summer of 2004.)

Best known for her work as an actress in such Broadway shows as The Secret Garden, James Joyce’s The Dead, and Les Miserables, Eagan also appeared in the films Ripe and Losing Isaiah, as well as on the TV shows “The Unit,” “Ghost Whisperer,” and “Without a Trace.” The “Cabaret Cares” event came together quickly, in part because of another successful benefit Eagan worked on in 2010. “Last year, a friend of mine and I put together a night to raise money for Doctors Without Borders,” she comments. “So, as soon as I heard about what happened in Japan last month, I decided to organize another benefit.”

For the actress, stepping into an official producer role was both challenging and satisfying. She put the word out on Twitter, and quickly assembled a potential evening with a cabaret performance twist. “My friend, James Mooney, the Executive Producer of Cabaret Idol, immediately came on board, and I am really grateful to have him as a partner because I really have no experience with producing,” she adds. “Producing a show with singers AND comedians is a lot more complicated than producing a comedy-only show! I had no idea -- comedians just need to know the place and time to show up, and how long a set they need to do. Easy. Singers, on the other hand -- they need sound checks and pianists and rehearsals, and on and on.”

It’s been a busy time for Eagan -- the April 11 event is in Los Angeles, a continent away from Eagan’s recent return to New York City a few weeks ago, for her one-woman show, “Still Daisy After All These Years,” and she’s currently in Yellow Springs, Ohio this week for some work training, and next week will be making an appearance at the William Inge Festival in Kansas. But at the moment, Los Angeles is still home: “For now," she adds. "I went to NYC for the premiere of my one-woman show, but I have a full time job in L.A., so I had to get back pretty quick.” Would she ever consider coming back to New York? She admits it’s crossed her mind. “I grew up in NYC, and I think I may need to go back…”

Eagan’s benefit for Japan, “Cabaret Cares: Songs for Japan” joins several other recent performing arts benefits in support of Japan, but offers its own unique spin as well – first and foremost, by working with the Japanese Business Council to ensure that the funds raised go directly in support of Japanese relief efforts. “A lot of other benefits are raising money for the Red Cross or similar organizations,” Eagan points out, “who are not necessarily earmarking donations directly for Japan like they were for Haiti. For our benefit, we're raising money for the Japanese Business Council, which is working directly with the Japanese Consulate to ensure that the money raised actually goes to the relief efforts in Japan. So, when you support ‘Cabaret Cares: Songs for Japan,’ you can be sure that your donation is going to help people on the ground in Japan who are effected by the earthquake and tsunami.

“'Songs for Japan' is also going to be more eclectic than the standard Broadway concert. We have comedians, a Big Band singer, jazz, Broadway singers, et cetera.” In keeping with the cabaret spirit, the concert will be a more laid-back affair “and most of all, fun,” adds Eagan. There will also be a silent auction with assorted prizes.

Showing Support for "Cabaret Cares: Songs for Japan"

Those interested in supporting the event can go to the Catalina website to buy tickets if they're in town (or purchase for friends who are in town), or call 323-446-2210. They can also contribute to the Japanese Business Association with a check donation, with "Cabaret Cares" in the memo line. They can also support by helping to spread the word, or by following efforts on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/cabaretcares.