FRANKLIN, La. — The Teche Theatre will stream "From Broadway With Love," which is benefit concert supporting children and adults living with Type 1 Diabetes, on Tuesday.
It's being presented by Kyler Cares, a nonprofit foundation that provides grants for continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps for children and young adults living with Type 1 Diabetes. The foundation was created by Kyle Banks, a New Orleans native who now is a Broadway performer.
The concert begins at 6 p.m. today and will feature performances of songs from the world's most beloved musicals by cast members from Broadway's biggest blockbusters, including The Book of Mormon, Hamilton, Disney's The Lion King and The Tina Turner Musical.
The concert will feature performances from Broadway
stars Alysha Umphress, Zinhle Dube, Raymond Baynard, Gina Milo, Jasmen Reyes, Sicelo Ntshangase, Mehret Marsh and Nick Rashad Burroughs.
The concert will be streamed via the Kyler Cares YouTube channel today, which is also World Diabetes Day.
Virtual admission is free with RSVP and donations will be accepted for the Kyler Cares Fund throughout the performance. The program also includes discussions with Stuart Chalew, the lead Endocrinologist at Children's Hospital New Orleans and Bret Christensen, the COO of Insulet Corporation which is the maker of OmniPod.
Kyler Cares was founded in 2018 by actor, singer and Broadway veteran, Kyle Banks, who was diagnosed with Type One Diabetes in 2015 while performing with Disney's The Lion King.
To see a video about his health journey, click here.
Banks is a New Orleans native who graduated from St. Augustine High School and Dillard University.
Serving as a mentor to kids through Children's Hospital, Kyle learned of the economic hardships many families face as a result of the costly medical supplies required to treat this chronic illness.
Although insulin pumps and CGM's offer a host of technological advances for optimal control of blood sugars, the exorbitant cost of these devices makes accessing them extremely difficult and burdensome.
The mission of the foundation is to assist individuals and families in need with the staggering cost associated with acquiring these sophisticated life saving devices.
Organizers say the concert would not have been possible without the generous support of sponsors, including: Broadway Cares, Insulet Corporation, Kasuri Hudson, Lite Brite Neon Studio, The Quiet Botanist, Art Omi and The Tenth Magazine.
If you'd like more information about the foundation, or would like to make a donation outside of the concert, click here.
