Attorneys Serving the Community (ASC) is announcing a new speaker for its 31st Annual Luncheon. This year’s event on Friday, June 23, 2017, at the Hilton Anatole Hotel benefits Junior Players, an organization that encourages intellectual growth, mental well-being and the development of life skills in North Texas youth through mentoring, creative expression and the participation in dramatic and arts activities. The event’s originally scheduled speaker, Broadway musical Hamilton star Renée Elise Goldsberry, is no longer able to serve as speaker due to a scheduling conflict. Ms. Goldsberry, however, personally secured fellow Hamilton star and Grammy award-winner Christopher Jackson to serve as speaker.

“We learned yesterday that an unavoidable scheduling conflict had arisen for Ms. Goldsberry and she is no longer able to serve as the 2017 ASC Luncheon Speaker,” said Kara Altenbaumer-Price, event lead co-chair. “While a change at this late date is not what we would have wished for, we are excited to announce that Christopher Jackson, who originated the role of George Washington in the Broadway production of Hamilton, has graciously agreed to step into the role of luncheon speaker on short notice. Mr. Jackson was awarded a Grammy and a Tony nomination for his role in Hamilton.  He also won a Drama Desk Award for his role in Hamilton-creator Lin-Manuel Miranda’s previous show, In The Heights.”

Mr. Jackson came to Hamilton already an accomplished musical theater actor whose work includes runs in The Lion King, Memphis and After Midnight, as well as the Tupac musical Holler If Ya Hear Me.  And like Ms. Goldsberry, he has had a successful career on the screen as well, including appearances on Bull, The Good Wife, and Oz.  He has been nominated for three Emmy Awards for composing music and lyrics for television, and he won the “Outstanding Original Song” Emmy Award in 2011 for his lyrics to “What I Am,” which he co-wrote for Sesame Street with Bill Sherman.

ASC’s mission is to bring together women lawyers who collectively utilize their resources and talents to support local non-profit organizations whose programs benefit women, children or families. Each year, ASC presents fundraising events that support its selected beneficiary. ASC’s annual beneficiary receives not only all of the money raised by its events but also enjoys increased public awareness of its services.

Junior Players was founded in 1955, and is the oldest non-profit children's theater organization in Dallas. The 61-year-year-old organization provides free arts education programs in local recreation and cultural centers, housing projects, elementary and middle schools, and through social service agencies serving youth at risk.

“ASC would like to extend our heartfelt thank you to Ms. Goldsberry for making it possible to continue the great momentum ASC and Junior Players have been able to achieve by association with the blockbuster Hamilton,” said Beth Bedell, event co-chair. “Rather than simply cancelling when it became clear that her current project would not wrap on time, she took responsibility and personally secured Mr. Jackson as her replacement.”

Table sponsorship begins at $1,750. Limited $175 individual tickets may also be purchased.  To purchase tables or for more information, click here or call Junior Players at 214-526-4076.