The 27th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event-S.T.A.G.E.-has added Tony winner Tyne Daly to the lineup for this year's show entitled ORIGINAL CAST 2. The one-night-only performance on Saturday, April 2 will be dedicated to the memory of musical-comedy star and long-time Event Co-Chair Betty Garrett who died last month at the age of 91. Net proceeds from ORIGINAL CAST 2, a musical celebration showcasing artists from theater, television and cabaret performing songs they originated in musical productions, will benefit AIDS Project Los Angeles.
Heading the list of this year's participants who will donate their time and talents to this notable event is a slate of Tony-award-winning performers, among them stage legends Carol Channing, Tyne Daly and Rita Moreno and Robert Morse from the hit series "Mad Men." The cast members of ORIGINAL CAST 2 will perform songs from shows with which they were associated. Those scheduled to appear and the shows from which they will perform material are as follows: Jonelle Allen ("Two Gentlemen of Verona"), Liz Callaway ("Baby), Philip Casnoff ("Chess"), Patrick Cassidy ("42nd Street"), Mary Jo Catlett ("Hello Dolly"), Carol Channing ("Hello Dolly"), Carole Cook ("42nd Street"), Barbara Deutsch ("Godspell"), Tyne Daly ("Ballroom "), Willy Falk ("Miss Saigon"), Danny Gurwin ("Little Women"), Bill Hutton ("Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"), Jane Kean ("Early to Bed"), Dale Kristien ("Showboat"), Vicki Lewis ("Funny Girl"), Sean McDermott ("Showboat"), Rita Moreno ("The Ritz:"), Patricia Morison ("The King and I"). Robert Morse ("How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"/"Take Me Along"), Pamela Myers ("Company"), Stephen Nathan ("Godspell"), Jennifer Paz ("Miss Saigon"), Valarie Pettiford ("Fosse"), Charlotte Rae ("Three Penny Opera'), Lee Roy Reams ("42nd Street") and Constance Towers ("Showboat").
David Galligan, who has produced and directed the show since its inception, will direct the production. Mary Ekler will serve as Music Director with choreography by Lee Martino and Dan Mojica. Jon Maher will do sign language interpretation.
S.T.A.G.E., the world's longest continuously running AIDS event, is the second fund-raising event ever created to fight AIDS. It has raised millions of dollars for HIV/AIDS organizations throughout the Southern California over the last 28 years. Net proceeds from ORIGINAL CAST 2 will go to APLA, one of largest non-profit AIDS service organizations in the United States, which provides bilingual direct support services, prevention education and leadership on HIV/AIDS-related policy and legislation. Founded by four friends in 1982, APLA is a community-based, volunteer-supported organization with local, national and global reach.
Betty Garrett, who had appeared in 22 previous S.T.A.G.E events, was preparing to perform a number in this year's show when she passed away. A musical retrospective honoring Garrett is now being planned as part of the show, and Betty Garrett memorial ad pages will be part of the show's program book.
The one-night-only performance of ORIGINAL CAST 2 is set for Saturday, April 2 at 7:30PM at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90032. The silent auction will commence at 6:00PM with a wine reception. Tickets range from $75 - $220.
