The holidays are traditionally a busy time for charities (e.g., BC/EFA's six week fundraising campaign), and the Actors' Fund is certainly in the seasonal spirit.

Monday, Dec. 16, the Fund will present a gala evening titled "Magic And Music," to honor New Yorker magazine editor, Tina Brown, and Ticketmaster CEO Fred Rosen. After cocktails and dinner, David Copperfield will offer a private, preview performance of his Dreams And Nightmares at the Martin Beck Theatre. Tickets ($500-$2,500 for the entire gala; $100-$250 show only) are available by calling the Actors' Fund at (212) 221-7300 x.133.

The Actors' Fund will also benefit from special performances of Smokey Joe's Cafe (Dec. 12), and Skylight (Dec. 22).

Most exciting of all, though, is the benefit scheduled for Feb. 24, 1997: "Nothing Like A Dame II." Billed as a "diva extravaganza...all singing, all dancing, all talking, all women!", the evening will benefit The Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative Of The Actors' Fund Of America. Scheduled to appear at the Marquis Theatre that night are Lauren Bacall, Glenn Close, Betty Buckley, Carol Burnett, Zoe Caldwell, Carol Channing, Celeste Holm, Andrea Martin, Debra Monk, Donna Murphy, Jane Powell and Kathleen Turner. Also Barbara Cook, Laurie Beechman, Liz Callaway and Judy Kuhn. Wendy Wasserstein will serve as a contributing writer for the evening. For more information, call the Actors' Fund "Dame Line" at (212) 221-7300 x.135.

Proceeds from these events will go to the Actors' Fund Of America, which provides financial assistance and social services to members of the entertainment industry. With national headquarters in Manhattan and regional offices in Chicago and Los Angeles, the Actors Fund offers counseling, substance abuse and mental health programs, nursing home care and retirement housing, as well as vital grants for food, rent and medical expenses, to members of the entertainment industry. --By David Lefkowitz