“Broadway Songfest” Benefiting SPAN Returns June 7

After belting out show tunes on famous stages from here to New York and back, and rubbing elbows with Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo and Mikhail Baryshnikov, it’s natural to think that Severna Park native Laurette Hankins-O’Connell would be hard-pressed to choose a favorite performance or venue, but that assumption would be incorrect.

On June 7, Hankins-O’Connell will bring her favorite, most heartfelt gig to life, “Broadway Songfest” and Silent Auction, at St. Martin’s-in-the-Field Episcopal Church. During the show, written completely by Hankins-O’Connell and accompanied by her dear friend, Anita O’Connor, the cabaret singer will share her incredible voice and quirky comedy while spilling the tea on some of the greatest musicals and celebrities of the last six decades.

For the sixth time, Hankins-O’Connell will share her Broadway smorgasbord of singing and stand-up comedy, coupled with a robust silent auction, with the greater Severna Park community, and 100% of the proceeds will benefit SPAN (Serving People Across Neighborhoods).

After decades of performing, and a successful career in development, Hankins-O’Connell wanted to share her self-proclaimed greatest gifts — “singing, talking and fundraising” — to support the community her family has loved for generations. In 2018 she approached SPAN’s director, then Ellen Kinsella, with her idea for a show and was met with a hearty yes.

Hankins-O’Connell’s decision to raise money for the neighborhood her family has long loved wasn’t something she had to think about — you might say her DNA is part of the Severna Park fabric. Her maternal grandparents, Arthur and Lydia Giddings, owned a grocery store in Severna Park in the 1930s. The Cape Arthur community, named after her grandfather, is a lasting testament to the role he played in the development of Severna Park. Her mother, Kathleen Giddings Hankins, so loved the community that she worked as the associate editor on the award-winning “Severna Park Reflections – An Album of Memories” book published in 1996.

Hankins-O’Connell attended Duke University following her graduation from Severna Park High School. While assisting a friend with set production, she had an opportunity to sing — something she didn’t know she could do — and that led to roles in “A Little Night Music,” “Applause” and “Company” at Duke.

After returning to Maryland, she played Gypsy Rose Lee in Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre’s production of “Gypsy.” She appeared in featured roles in two productions at the short-lived Heritage Equity Dinner Theater in Severna Park before moving to the Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre in Woodbridge, Virginia.

Hankins-O’Connell moved to New York City, where she became a member of Actors’ Equity, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), and the Screen Actors Guild. She performed in the Equity summer tour of “The Student Prince,” in the Equity Coachlight Theatre’s production of “South Pacific,” and worked in commercials, films and television. She was a featured soloist in the AFTRA Variety Showcase in New York City’s Nat Horne Theater.

Alongside performing, Hankins-O’Connell had a prolific career in development and fundraising at Fordham University, Towson University, the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, Severn School, The Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute, and ultimately the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She retired in 2022. Of her development career, she said it was her “way to do some good while having some fun!”

She debuted her one-woman cabaret, “It’s the Journey: Life a La Carte,” in 2010. She performed similar shows around Maryland. Six years ago, she brought her Broadway-themed cabaret to Severna Park to benefit SPAN.

“Laurette’s concert is amazing,” said SPAN Director of Development Michele Sabean. “SPAN has been open for 36 years because people like Laurette come together to serve our community. What she’s doing is a beautiful example of using one’s gifts, time, energy and talent to help neighbors.”

Sabean said “Songfest” is SPAN’s second largest fundraising event of the year behind the annual Turkey Trot. More than $11,000 was raised last year for SPAN’s emergency crisis fund. While many people may think of the food pantry first, SPAN also provides financial assistance for evictions, medical bills, prescriptions and utility turn-offs.

The year’s event will include the one-of-a-kind performance with a silent auction of items donated by local businesses and individuals. Hankins-O’Connell is also an accomplished photographer and will have signed photographs available to bid on. Themed baskets, gift cards to local businesses and restaurants, professional sports items and experience vouchers are available. The bidding is now open online, and you do not need to attend the concert to bid.

Tickets for Songfest are $25 at www.spanhelps.org. Online bidding is open at 32auctions.com/spanauction2026. Auction bidding ends at the conclusion of the performance.