What do the cast of Green Day's American Idiot, Ashanti, Natasha Bedingfield, The Goo Goo Dolls, James Blunt, Girls Aloud, Lily Allen, The Darkness, Nicole Parker, Ana Gasteyer, Neil Patrick Harris, Kerry Butler, Megan Hilty, Bobby Steggert, and many other professionals have in common? They've all trained under Liz Caplan, who is widely considered to be the top vocal coach for Broadway and beyond in New York City. All of her students that I've met have another thing in common, and that's their love for Caplan, who keeps them healthy and vocally safe.

Recently, Caplan and her husband, Doug Maxwell, hosted the official opening of Maxwell's non-profit company, Visionary Media. Maxwell started his company in order to help retain employment for blind musicians and performers, studio engineers, and actors. Maxwell himself is a legally blind musician, and created the organization because it's something he wished he'd had available to him throughout his career.

The new website for Visionary Media is filled with a set of VERY inspiring stories, information, and of course, music. They've already worked with more than 200 blind creative individuals and a new studio at 123 West 18th Street in New York City is now open for vocal and music lessons, and it's already being discussed for future Broadway cast recordings and other endeavors.

Caplan and Maxwell's inspirational work together and support of the Broadway community is simply outstanding. For the key roles they play behind the scenes, they are this week's Character Approved pick.

[Image: Broadway World]