Cabaret for a Cause

Founded in 1981, the Marfan Foundation is a non-profit organization that aims to create a brighter future for everyone affected by Marfan syndrome and related conditions through research, patient support, and education. The foundation works tirelessly to advance research, serve as a resource for families and healthcare providers, and raise public awareness.

 

Marfan syndrome is a life-threatening genetic condition that affects our connective tissue, which helps to hold the body’s cells and tissues together. Marfan syndrome is a serious condition, and some complications can be potentially life-threatening. Although there is no cure for Marfan syndrome, advances in medical care and the works of organizations like the Marfan Foundation are helping people live a normal lifespan.

 

On January 25th 1996, Jonathan Larson, the brilliant playwright of RENT, lost his life the night before Rent's Off-Broadway premiere at the New York Theatre Workshop due to an aortic dissection believed to have been caused by Marfan (he displayed many of the outward signs, but had never been diagnosed). The Larson family has worked closely with the Marfan Foundation on a multi-pronged campaign to raise awareness of the signs of aortic dissection and how it is diagnosed and treated in hospitals. These efforts included the creation of continuing medical education videos for the healthcare community, public awareness campaigns, and distribution of appropriate literature at performances of the show by members of the RENT cast.