Broadway comes to Branford

Branford (WTNH) - A concert tonight in Branford will feature some of Broadway's hottest stars. Money raised at the event will benefit a non-profit that provides musical instruments and lessons to disadvantaged children in Branford.

Colin Sheehan organized the fundraiser for his MusiKids charity.

"Everyone in the cast has these amazing credits, whether it be tours or cruises or Broadway, and for them to be in Branford, Connecticut, I still have to pinch myself," Sheehan said.

Sheehan created MusiKids for his senior project at Branford High School. He figured it wouldn't last beyond his graduation.

"And here we are seven years later, still going strong because we're able to do all these big benefits in New York City as well as in Connecticut with a bunch of my friends that are performers," he said.

Friends like Christie Peruso, a dancer and a 2007 Branford High graduate. She was also a MusiKids scholarship recipient.

"I was able to continue my training and now I do this professionally. And that's why I came back to help out again because I'm just so grateful that there is something like this and it can help other kids out as well," said Peruso.

Christie recently wrapped a stint as Anita in West Side Story in Dallas and shot a music video last week in Milan. But this weekend she and Colin are glad to be home in Connecticut.

"They're gonna see, if they want to continue in the arts, that they can - and have a very successful career," Sheehan said.

"Especially because Colin did it, I did it, they know that, they've seen us in this school, they've seen us here and now we have gone on to do other things," Peruso said.

Tonight's concert features Tony Award winner Lilias White and the Broadway Boys. It starts at 8pm at Branford High School .