Not only is she a Beauty, she has a heart! Melissa Thomson, who plays Belle in Beauty And The Beast in Toronto, will be performing in a benefit for Equity Fights AIDS, May 5. Hosted by Mark Stenabaugh, the event begins at the unusual starting time of 7:56 PM, at the New Yorker Theatre on Yonge St. She's also performing at a May 12 Pediatric AIDS benefit at the Winter Garden Theatre, called "Voices Of Hope." Steve Blanchard (the Beast) will also perform at this benefit. Toronto's Beast opened Aug. 8, 1995. Other cast members of the company include Janet MacEwen (Mrs. Potts), Merwin Foard (Gaston), David De Vries (Lumiere), Terry Doyle (Maurice), Mark Terene (Cogsworth). According to Julia Gallagher, spokesperson for the show, plans are in the works for an August birthday celebration.

For tickets ($37.50) to Beauty & The Beast, call (416) 870-8000.