Thursday, March 13, 1997
THEATER:
In its 12th year, S.T.A.G.E. continues with a toast to Cole
PorterBy Kathleen Rhames
Daily Bruin Contributor
In 1984, when director David Galligan was asked to produce a
charity benefit for a strange virus attacking gay men, he accepted,
thinking it would be a one-time event and a chance to gain more
experience as a director.
What he couldn’t have known then was that the onslaught of the
AIDS epidemic would catapult him to the top of what is today the
oldest and most renown HIV/AIDS benefit in the world.
This year’s Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event
(S.T.A.G.E.) celebrates the theater community this weekend at Cal
State L.A.’s Luckman Theater with a production entitled "Cole
Porter: A Musical Toast."
Yet, while the benefit has grown, so has the scope of the
disease.
"I had no idea it would become this big. None of us did,"
Galligan says. "At that time, AIDS was certainly not out in the
open. Everybody thought it was a gay disease, which now we know is
not true. As the disease developed, it began robbing the theater of
its artists so it seemed right that a theater event should benefit
the charity."
Tim Curry, Dale Kristien and David Hyde Pierce are among over 40
volunteers who will join voices to celebrate Porter’s work.
With a 1930s theme, the setting is a penthouse cocktail party
complete with bartenders and maids, featuring Cole Porter classics
such as "I Get A Kick Out of You," "In the Still of the Night" and
"Anything Goes."
The proceeds from S.T.A.G.E. will raise funds for both the AIDS
Service Center and Project Angel Food, which delivers over 800
meals on a daily basis to people living with the disease.
Often referred to as the "King of Benefits" for his work in
raising money for AIDS charities, Galligan is grateful for the
success and longevity that his career with S.T.A.G.E. has enjoyed.
It is, however, a bittersweet success since AIDS itself is still
incurable.
"It is unfortunate, in a way, that the show must go on because
the disease goes on," Galligan says. "There’s both a sense of
camaraderie and sadness when I think of people that have
participated in the event every year and today are no longer with
us because of AIDS."
And no one knows this better than Galligan himself, who lost
friend
and co-founder of S.T.A.G.E. James Carroll Pickett to the
disease. Thirteen years later, Galligan reminisces about the early
days of the benefit.
"Ignorance is bliss because I had never directed other than the
Drama Critic Awards," he says. "We had no lights, props, costumes
or sound. I would just call around with James and ask people to
donate. The first year we had a $10 ticket and people actually
brought food in lieu of tickets."
Despite its rough start in the theater, the quality of
performances attracted big names right from the beginning. One of
these is Dale Kristien. A loyal supporter and friend of Galligan’s
for 13 years, Kristien feels the nature of the benefit really hits
close to home.
"I have lost so many friends to this disease, I think we tend to
support the charities that most affect us. We certainly didn’t
intend on doing this for 13 years because we hoped it wouldn’t be a
problem anymore."
Kristien, who perhaps is best known for her role as Christine in
"Phantom of the Opera," has been an avid supporter of S.T.A.G.E.
since its debut in 1984. Since then, she has volunteered her voice
and her time to help raise money for AIDS research.
Her work with S.T.A.G.E. has helped her career as well, giving
her the training she feels she’s needed for concert work since the
close of "Phantom of the Opera."
Both Galligan and Kristien agree that a special camaraderie
exists between the audience and the actors that gives the benefit a
unique quality of performance.
"It’s the most joyous event that I have ever sung at," Kristien
says. "The amount of talent and people that get together to put
this on is phenomenal, not to mention the audiences we get are the
best in LA. They’re all on your team and they’re so responsive.
They just love the show."
Galligan agrees, "S.T.A.G.E. is an event that is built on love.
I’ve never seen such caring in an entire theater. It’s pretty
syrupy but it’s the truth."
It is this supportive attitude that makes one almost forget the
grim reason behind the benefit. And even in his attempt to raise
money for AIDS research, Galligan refuses to set ticket prices at
too high a price so that many can afford to contribute.
In a business that often revolves around competition and
money-making, performers enjoy the chance to use their talents for
a good cause.
"I’d like to think that I was born with a gift," Kristien
reflects. "But a gift isn’t a gift until you give it away. I’d like
to think that in some way that my gift creates gifts for others;
that we can raise money to fight a disease, and I can translate my
gift into a positive way of generating research for those projects
that need it."
Galligan realizes that recent research has benefited AIDS
patients immensely, but his optimism is cautious.
"This year so many people think that there is a cure for AIDS,
which there is not," Galligan says. "The new wonder drugs, while
they have improved, are still not proven and are by no means a
cure."
"I want people to have a wonderful time," Galligan continues,
"but I want them to remember why they are there having a wonderful
time."
THEATER: S.T.A.G.E (Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event)
presents "Cole Porter: A Musical Toast" March 14, 15 and 16 at Cal
State L.A.’s Luckman Theater. Tickets range from $30 to $150. For
more information, call (818) 441-5002.
A special comaraderie exists between the audience and
actors.