The St. Stephen's Parish Players will present an encore performance of their children's production of "The Lion King Jr." in an impromptu benefit for a 6-year-old girl.
The Parish Players ministry will hold "Encore for Evie," a benefit for 6-year-old "Lion King" cast member Evie Baumler, who is scheduled to have open-heart surgery to correct a congenital heart defect.
"Encore for Evie" will take place Friday, April 13, at 7 p.m. in the St. Stephen School cafetorium, 2080 Baseline Road. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.
All the proceeds from a suggested donation of $5 will go to support Evie.
"Lion King" director MaryLis Rustowicz said she and her mother, Maura, came up with the idea after "The Lion King" show on Saturday night.
MaryLis Rustowicz met Evie Baumler at the Parish Players' summer theater camp. She called Evie "Adorable. She's really cute and energetic. ... She tells us she has a special scar" on her chest from her first open heart surgery.
"She's fun. She's a sweetheart. ... She's an amazing young little girl and very brave, definitely."
The Baumler story is featured in a cover story in the February edition of Buffalo Healthy Living magazine (pictured at far right) and online at Evie Grace's Heart Journey at Facebook
"We're hoping to have a capacity crowd," Maura Rustowicz said.
