“Songs in the Key of ME!”

Ronald McDonald House New York

Songs in the Key of Me!

Songs in the Key of Me! created by BIV Founder, Michael McElroy, is a transformative initiative that partners Broadway Inspirational Voices with The Ronald McDonald House to create personalized musical compositions for pediatric cancer patients and their families. The program brings together a team of Broadway composers with patients and their families to collaborate and craft original songs that capture the essence of each patient's unique story.

Over the past thirteen years, BIV has served over 825 patients and their families in all 50 states through this program. Songs in the Key of Me! offers patients and their families a creative outlet to express themselves, find joy and positivity, and connect with others who share similar experiences. The program is particularly important for families dealing with terminal diagnoses, offering them a sense of hope and comfort during an extremely difficult time.

The program culminates with a concert or video featuring the personalized songs performed by members of BIV, the Broadway community, or the composer/lyricists themselves. The songs are cherished by the patients and families we serve, providing a lasting and meaningful tribute to their experiences.

The “Songs in the Key of Me!” Program is led by experienced BIV Teaching Artists and BIV Program Mentors, who work closely with families to develop their personalized songs. The program is available to pediatric cancer patients and their families who are staying at The Ronald McDonald House, providing a unique and powerful opportunity to engage in creative expression and connection during a challenging time.

HOST

Tasha Michelle is a singer, songwriter, actress and author originally from Pittsburgh, PA now residing in New Jersey. Tasha has been found on many stages singing back up for artists such as Renee Elise Goldsberry, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Patti Labelle,Lalah Hathaway, to name a few. She has also been a member of Broadway Inspirational Voices for over 17 years. Regional Theater Credits; Being Alive, Into The Woods, Little Shop of Horrors, The Crawford Grill present Billie Holiday and Mahalia: The Mahalia Jackson Story. Tasha loves mentoring youth interested in the Performing Arts and advocates for Performing Arts in schools and afterschool programs. Tasha released her first children’s book “Saturday My Favorite Day” in the summer of 2021.

COMPOSERS

MASI ASARE is a Tony-nominated composer, lyricist, and dramatist. Her musicals and plays include PARADISE SQUARE (Broadway, Chicago), MONSOON WEDDING (Off-Broadway, international), and ODYSSEY (SF Bay Area, national tour), as well as several more in development. Her shows MARIAN, OR THE TRUE TALE OF ROBIN HOOD: THE MUSICAL and MIRROR OF MOST VALUE: A MS. MARVEL PLAY are published by Concord Theatricals, and her secret agent musical SYMPATHY JONES is published by Broadway Licensing. Her awards and honors include the Ziegfeld Award for a woman composer of musicals, a Theater Hall of Fame Grant, and the Women to Watch on Broadway list. Masi is also a theatre professor and researcher at Northwestern University. Her book Blues Mamas and Broadway Belters about Black women singers in musical theatre history will be published in October 2024. She divides her time between New York City and Chicago.

Leslie Carrara-Rudolph is an multifaceted entertainer, artist, voice actor, and educator best known for her work puppeteering Abby Cadabby on Sesame Street for which she has received 6 Emmy nominations for outstanding performer in a children’s series. Leslie’s BA degree from SF State in “Child Development Through the Arts” along with her outreach work inspired her to create “ Humor With A Heart”, an entertainment company that specializes in helping communities navigate life creatively. Leslie has a comedy cabaret series in NY called “Bizarre Brunch” which features her sidekick Lolly Lardpop. Leslie is honored to be working with Broadway Inspirational Voices and Ronald Mcdonald House on this project so near and dear to heart and life’s work

Paul Rudolph is a composer, arranger, instrument builder, and vocal music director/recordist/composer for “Sesame Street”, where he received 3 Emmy nominations for Music Direction, and won 3 Emmys for music editing. Music direction/composition/arranger credits include Sesame Street (HBO/PBS) (includes TV, web, live shows and app content), Nature Cat (PBS), Julie’s Greenroom (Netflix) Toca Boca, Heather Henson, Leslie Carrara-Rudolph, Martin P. Robinson’s All Hallows’ Eve, the Jim Henson Company, Muppets Tonight (ABC), Jerry Nelson's original CD Truro Daydreams. He also composes multi-media pieces for his percussion performance art group GLANK, using found object metal to create unique sounds.