THE STRIP SHINES ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON AS LAS VEGAS STARS HIT THE STAGE FOR LAS VEGAS’ 8th ANNUAL NF HOPE CONCERT OCTOBER 21 AT THE PALAZZO THEATRE

Former “Jersey Boys” Star Jeff Leibow Enlists Entertainers Including All-4-One, Human Nature, Clint Holmes, Earl Turner, MO5AIC, and more to Raise Money for and Awareness of Neurofibromatosis

 Las Vegas' most prominent entertainers will take the stage at Las Vegas’ 8^th Annual NF Hope Concert on Sunday, Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. at The Palazzo® Las Vegas. Benefit organizers Jeff Leibow, formerly of “Jersey Boys,” and his wife Melody, have once again united the entertainment community bringing together a who's who of Las Vegas performers, including Human Nature, All-4-One, Clint Holmes, Earl Turner, MO5AIC, and many more in an afternoon spectacular to raise money and awareness for the Neurofibromatosis Network, an organization dedicated to families and individuals suffering from Neurofibromatosis (NF), and the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation to support NF families in Southern Nevada.  Tickets start at $49 and can be purchased at any box office at The Venetian or The Palazzo, online at palazzo.com, or by calling 702-414-9000 or 866-641-7469. A limited number of VIP tickets are available by emailing info@nfhope.org.

Since the inaugural event in 2011, the “NF Hope Concert” has grown by leaps and bounds, with more than $625,000 raised for Neurofibromatosis research and advocacy and growing to three cities – Las Vegas, New York City and Chicago. This year’s all-star lineup includes the Grammy® Award-winning R&B Pop group, All-4-One; Las Vegas headliners Human Nature, the Las Vegas debut of Finding Faith featuring Andrew Tierney of Human Nature; award-winning Vegas headliners Clint Holmes and Earl Turner; a cappella sensation MO5AIC; cast members from Cocktail Cabaret; Broadway’s Ava Della Pietra from “School of Rock”; songstress Nicole Pryor with Las Vegas Academy Choir; and Jeff and Melody Leibow with a special guest appearance by daughter Emma; as well as some surprise guests. Consummate emcee, Vegas radio star, and longtime NF Hope supporter, Chet Buchanan, will return to the Palazzo Theatre stage to support Leibow and lend his hosting duties. 

Las Vegas music icon, Keith Thompson, will be presented with a special award for his tireless commitment to the NF Hope Concert since its inception.  Thompson will be honored during the afternoon with the distinguished Advocate of Hope award.  Composer Keith Thompson has had a prestigious musical career and his work has received critical acclaim. Musical Director and Conductor credits include The Producers (Las Vegas), the North American premiere of We Will Rock You (Las Vegas), Hairspray (Las Vegas), Cabaret (National Tour with Teri Hatcher and Lea Thompson, Australian Musical Supervisor, Dora Award winner), Mamma Mia (First National Tour), and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (with Donny Osmond).  His New York credits include Les Miserables, Tommy, Forbidden Broadway, and When Pigs Fly.  Thompson is currently receiving critical acclaim for Cocktail Cabaret at The Barge in Caesars Palace and the monthly Composer’s Showcase at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. 

“We are touched every year by the generosity of the patrons who purchase tickets to the concert,” says Jeff Leibow, Director of Development for NF Hope® Concerts and Board of Directors member, Neurofibromatosis Network, “but it is people like Keith Thompson, who invest their time and talent to make it successful that take our breath away.”

Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a genetic disorder of the nervous system characterized by tumors that can grow on any nerve in the body without warning. Leibow’s young daughter, Emma, was diagnosed with this condition in 2010 when she was just nine months old. As Leibow and his wife, Melody, learned more about the disorder’s devastating effects, they conceived the idea for the concert with the realization that they had an obligation to both their family and the 128,000 people living with NF to educate others about the disorder. Although it is a common genetic disorder, most people are not aware that one in 2,500 people are born with it making it more common than cystic fibrosis, hereditary muscular dystrophy, Huntington’s disease, and Tay Sachs combined.

Every year, Emma has supplied Leibow and his wife all the inspiration they need to make this event a success, but this year, they have even more to fight for. “Last year, we discovered a complex of tumors in Emma’s leg that carry the threat of becoming an incurable cancer. This year, an annual MRI exposed another tumor on her optic nerve,” said Leibow. “Watching NF affect Emma like this is heartbreaking, and it is why we will continue fighting for her and the NF community.”

Tickets start at $49 and can be purchased at any box office at The Venetian or The Palazzo, online at palazzo.com, or by calling 702-414-9000 or 866-641-7469. A select number of VIP tickets are available.  VIP tickets include exclusive gifts, sponsor recognition and prime seating at the October 21 concert and are available by emailing info@nfhope.org. The NF Hope Concert also features a lavish silent auction including priceless experiences, ticket packages to the top shows on the Strip, hotel stay packages, celebrity experiences, Broadway experiences, restaurant gift certificates, spa certificates, and more. Access to the silent auction begins Wednesday, Oct. 11 via https://nfhopelv.auction-bid.org. The auction will open for viewing at 11:30 a.m. on the day of the event. For more information on NF Hope, visit www.nfhope.org. You can follow NF hope on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The 2018 NF Hope Concert is sponsored by Tito’s Vodka, Findley Toyota, All Western Mortgage, Penta Building Group, and Papillion Grand Canyon Helicopters.