Music can make a worrisome time a little easier, and that's particularly true now in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan where music is drawing customers to small businesses and restaurants struggling to stay afloat in the pandemic.

What You Need To Know

  • Holly-Anne Devlin has created a musical group, the Hell's Kitchen Happiness Krewe, to play near small businesses and restaurants to help draw customers in

  • Devlin is paying all the performers. If you'd like to make a donation to help her offset costs, go to here

  • To help out of work actors and raise money for The Actors Fund, actor Tim Realbuto is staging playreading Fridays. You can find out more here

  • If you see an Act of Kindness in the city, big or small, please email Kristen Shaughnessy at aokkristen@gmail.com

It's part of an effort by the new Hell's Kitchen Happiness Krewe, launched by Holly-Anne Devlin through her production company, Kaleidoscope Entertainment, for her Manhattan neighborhood.

She's paying out of her own pocket for performers who have be out of work since March to stage events in the community.

The Happiness Krewe's first pop up event was on Restaurant Row at the Hourglass Tavern. The group performed a free concert followed by a street-wide Second Line, with a special performance by the street beat brass band — all for free in the hopes of attracting customers to the businesses nearby.

Playreading Fridays is another effort to help performers who are out of work.

Started by actor, singer and playwright Tim Realbuto as a way for actors to stay creative while streaming live theater to people. Hundreds of thousands have tuned in to watch the performances. 

Readings have including “The Shape of Things,” “The Glass Menagerie” and “The Understudy.”

The next production will be held on August 21, a Friday evening. 

That play is “In a Dark, Dark House,” by Neil LaBute,  

“Please, please, please, support Playreading Fridays, and while you're at it support the Actors Fund, because they need it now more than ever,” Realbuto said.

You can check it out or make a donation here.