The Colorado Shakespeare Festival company presents its sixth annual Cabaret AIDS Benefit and Art Auction, Aug. 4 at the Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre in Boulder, CO. Admission is free but donations are encouraged.

The Silent Art Auction begins at 7:30 PM and features art donated by local and company artists. Celebrities who have made donations include Bill Cosby, Kathy Bates, the cast of "All My Children" and Charles Hallahan, who is now appearing at CSF. An original, signed poem by Maya Angelou has also been donated.

Also up for auction are set renderings by CSF scenic designers and masks created by the CSF crafts department, based on those seen in this summer's production of Romeo and Juliet. Tickets to local theatre productions will also be auctioned

CSF actors will perform songs, dances, skits and monologues along with talented behind-the scenes company members in the cabaret, which begins at 8 PM.

During the intermission, an open auction will be held for the 1997 CSF quilt, created by the costume department using pieces of the same fabric used for this year's costumes. Proceeds from the evening will go to the Boulder County AIDS Project, the Colorado AIDS Project and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Since 1992, this event has raised more than $10 000 for AIDS charities.

For more information call (303) 473-0543.

--By Laura MacDonald