BRONX, NY – A house is in the process of becoming a home thanks to the help of what will be nearly 2,000 volunteers from New York City Habitat for Humanity®, who are constructing 12 units in the Fox-Leggett Co-op Apartments in the South Bronx over a 10 month period. Even more appropriate is a portion of the Fox-Leggett building has been constructed by the cast and crew of Little House on the Prairie -- The Musical, including renowned actress Melissa Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls-Wilder in the original TV Series from 1974 through 1983. Gilbert will be starring in the upcoming musical at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey, this time in the role of Caroline Ingalls, known as "Ma".
On August 3, Gilbert and the cast and crew traded in their hats and bonnets and instead donned hard hats and worked together to sheetrock walls in several of the Habitat units of the seven story, 60,165 square foot building. The building is comprised of 50 affordable housing units in total.
"I’m a homebody," Gilbert said. "My home is important to me. When I travel I always take a little bit of my home with me wherever I go. I always travel with special framed pictures or a blanket from home." Gilbert added, "It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of this project. We build a home and town onstage in the musical and this is a perfect fit working together with Habitat for Humanity to be able to build a home for someone else."
Habitat for Humanity® was approached by Little House on the Prairie, The Musical for this unique partnership idea in order to raise awareness about the necessity for affordable housing. In each city of the musical’s 34-week and 25 city national tour, the cast and crew will work with Habitat for Humanity® to build homes. "It’s the importance of family and home," Gilbert said. "We will be leaving a home in every location."
Longtime residents on Fox Street who spoke with The Alternative Press said they are impressed by the construction and are pleased with the improvement to their neighborhood because of this new structure. "This is a wonderful partnership and makes so much sense with the mission of the show and how it works with Habitat," said Marc Thibodeau, National Press Representative for Little House on the Prairie, The Musical.
The group from Little House on the Prairie, The Musical, worked alongside Habitat New York City volunteers and family-partner homeowners including Troy Agard, who currently lives in Queens and will be moving to his first home through Habitat in Brooklyn. Agard, who works in the financial industry, spent his time contributing what Josh Lockwood, Executive Director of New York City Habitat for Humanity®, described as "sweat equity".
As part of the program every adult donates a minimum of 300 hours of their time in constructing the residences. In return, these first-time homebuyers will have the opportunity to pay no more than 33% of their income towards monthly housing expenses.
Gilbert’s two sons Dakota Brinkman and Michael Boxleitner were also both present at the site. Brinkman, who was very active in construction efforts while the group was there said, "This is a great way to pitch in for the community." Boxleitner, who at age 13 was too young to do the actual construction work, stayed on the site’s ground floor in camaraderie and support of fellow cast members and crew who were working in the building. Gilbert proudly announced this will be Boxleitner’s first professional work experience touring with the show as a member of the cast.
Gilbert described her return to the stage in the part of "Ma" as "through the looking glass and coming full circle" after starring as "Laura" in the TV show. Little House on the Prairie, The Musical will make its East Coast Premiere and kickoff its tour at the Paper Mill Playhouse from September 10 through October 10, 2009. Show times will be Wednesdays at 7:00PM, Thursdays at 1:30PM and 7:00PM, Fridays at 7:00PM, Saturdays at 1:30PM and 7:00PM, and Sundays at 1:30PM and 7:00PM. Tickets are currently on sale at the box office at the Paper Mill Playhouse on Brookside Drive in Millburn or by phone at: (973) 376-4343. Tickets are also available for purchase online at: http://www.papermill.org. For more information about Little House on the Prairie, The Musical, see their website: http://littlehousethemusical.com/
Habitat for Humanity® is a non-profit Christian organization which has provided affordable housing worldwide for more than 1 million people in over 225,000 homes. According to Duane Bates, Director of Public Relations and New Media for Habitat for Humanity® International, who was also present at the Fox-Leggett site when the cast and crew were working, approximately 1 million people volunteer their time annually to help build homes for the group. For more information, see their website: http://www.habitat.org.