Tuesday, January 27, 1998
Artists hit the S.T.A.G.E. to help AIDS charities
THEATER Benefit concert sends message, money to fund local
organizations
By Kristi Nakamura
Daily Bruin Contributor
There is one AIDS-related death every 11 minutes in the United
States. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that
worldwide, one person is infected with HIV every 11 seconds.
Los Angeles ranks second nationwide in diagnosed AIDS cases,
exceeded only by New York City.
Just following the departure of the West Coast Company’s "Rent"
from Los Angeles, another group of artists have come together to
bring a similar message of courage, commitment and passion about a
disease that continues to produce frightening statistics.
Like the bohemian artist characters of "Rent," the artists
involved with S.T.A.G.E. (Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event)
use music to do more than just get their message of compassion
across. All of the performers involved with S.T.A.G.E. volunteer
their time and talent to raise money for those living with HIV and
AIDS. All proceeds from the 14th annual S.T.A.G.E. benefit concert,
which will take place Friday through Sunday on the California State
University, Los Angeles campus, go to charity.
"I always jump at the chance to be able to help charities in any
way, and this one in particular is very important," says Davis
Gaines, who sang the role of the Phantom of the Opera during its
run at the Ahmanson Theater. "It’s not work at all. It’s just fun
so that’s why we do it and it helps with the cause and we’ll keep
doing this until we don’t have to do it anymore, which I hope is
soon."
The theme for this year’s production celebrates the music and
lyrics of Alan J. Lerner, Frederick Loewe and Burton Lane. Songs
from Broadway musicals like "My Fair Lady," "Finian’s Rainbow,"
"Camelot," "Brigadoon" and others will be performed by an all-star
cast that reads as a virtual who’s who of the theater
community.
"Lerner and Loewe and Burton Lane have written some of the most
incredible songs you’ve ever heard," says Charlotte Rae, who will
be singing "When the Idle Poor Become the Idle Rich" from "Finian’s
Rainbow."
Beyond the musical portion of the evening, both Rae and Gaines
cite the many talented artists performing with them as among the
best parts of the benefit. However, both make it clear that the
very best part of the S.T.A.G.E. benefit is knowing they are
helping to raise money to fight AIDS.
S.T.A.G.E. was the second benefit ever set up to raise money for
AIDS charities and has since become the oldest annual AIDS benefit
in the world.
This year, proceeds will benefit two of Los Angeles’ high
profile HIV and AIDS organizations: Project Angel Food and AIDS
Service Center.
Project Angel Food has delivered free, hot, nutritious meals to
homebound AIDS patients in the greater Los Angeles area since 1989.
With less than 15 percent of its funding coming from the
government, Project Angel Food relies heavily upon volunteers and
privately raised funds.
The AIDS Service Center provides free services such as a family
and pediatrics program, a food pantry, transportation, housing
assistance, legal counseling and many other volunteer-supported
programs to people living with HIV and AIDS.
The S.T.A.G.E. benefit will be directed, as it has been every
year since the event’s inception, by David Galligan.
"David Galligan always puts on a great show – you know,
extraordinary," Rae says. "We have a lot of people who come back
year after year. We sell out all the time because they know it’s
going to be terrific. They don’t want to miss it."
Musical direction for S.T.A.G.E. is being provided for the 12th
year by Ron Abel.
"Each song really, the way Ron arranges his music, is like a
showstopper," says Gaines. "Everybody sings, gives it their best
shot each time. So you see one after another – these great people
that you see on television or you’ve seen in the theater. They just
keep coming and they sing the best material. It’s really
exciting."
Over the past 14 years of its existence, S.T.A.G.E. has become a
very important part of the industry and one of the most celebrated
events of the year.
"It will be great when we have the last (benefit)," Gaines says.
"Then we can celebrate."
THEATER: S.T.A.G.E. will take place Friday through Sunday at
Luckman Theatre, 5151 State University Drive, on the Cal State Los
Angeles campus. Tickets range from $30 to $150 and are available at
(800) 376-7232 and at all Ticketmaster outlets.Broadway L.A.
Davis Gaines will perform in this year’s S.T.A.G.E. concert to
benefit AIDS charities.