This year, rather than salute the work of a composer, the annual AIDS benefit will feature artists from theatre, TV and cabaret performing songs they originated in musical productions.
The 7:30 PM concert, titled Original Cast 2, will boast the talents of Carol Channing, Rita Moreno, Robert Morse, Jonelle Allen, Liz Callaway, Philip Casnoff, Patrick Cassidy, Mary Jo Catlett, Carole Cook, Barbara Deutsch, Willy Falk, Danny Gurwin, Bill Hutton, Jane Kean, Dale Kristien, Sean McDermott, Patricia Morison, Pamela Myers, Stephen Nathan, Jennifer Paz, Valarie Pettiford, Charlotte Rae and Lee Roy Reams.
The upcoming evening will also pay tribute to the late musical-comedy star and long-time event co-chair Betty Garrett, who died Feb. 12 at the age of 91.
David Galligan will direct the evening, which will feature musical direction by Mary Ekler and choreography by Lee Martino and Dan Mojica. Jon Maher will offer sign-language interpretation.
The S.T.A.G.E. concert is the longest continuously running AIDS benefit in the world. Proceeds from this year's event will go to AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA), an organization now in its 28th year of providing direct services and HIV/AIDS prevention education throughout Los Angeles County. The first S.T.A.G.E. benefit took place in October 1984, honoring the music of Leonard Bernstein. Subsequent presentations have paid tribute to Stephen Sondheim (1985, 1987, 1996), Jule Styne (1988), Jerry Herman (1989), John Kander and Fred Ebb (1990), Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein (1991), Irving Berlin (1992), George and Ira Gershwin (1993), Harold Arlen (1995), Cole Porter (1997), Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe and Burton Lane (1998), Richard Adler, Jerry Bock and Cy Coleman (1999), Charles Strouse, Arthur Schwartz and Stephen Schwartz (2000), Jerome Kern (2001), Johnny Mercer (2002), Frank Loesser (2003), Andrew Lloyd Webber (2004), Marvin Hamlisch and Harry Warren (2005), Betty Comden and Adolph Green (2006), Stephen Sondheim (2007), Burt Bacharach (2008) and the Gershwins (2009).
Luckman Fine Arts Complex is located at 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA. The silent auction will commence at 6 PM with a wine reception. Tickets range from $75-$220. For ticket or sponsorship information, visit www.stagela.com or call (866) 679-0958.
