23rd Annual S.T.A.G.E Benefit March 10, 2007

For Release on Friday, February 2, 2007

“By Side By Side By Side By Side by Stephen Sondheim” Set for March 10 and 11
23rd ANNUAL S.T.A.G.E. BENEFIT ANNOUNCES CAST
FOR CELEBRATION OF MUSIC OF STEPHEN SONDHEIM

“Desperate Housewives” Creator Marc Cherry to Appear

The 23rd Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.), the longest continuously running AIDS benefit in the world, will celebrate the work of renowned composer Stephen Sondheim with a show entitled “By Side By Side By Side By Side by Stephen Sondheim.” This year, the event moves to a new location—The Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills—with performances on Saturday, March 10 at 8:00PM and Sunday, March 11 at 3:00PM.

S.T.A.G.E. brings together some of the biggest stars in theatre, television and cabaret to celebrate the music of legendary Broadway composers, and this year’s cast is no exception. Joining the show for the first time is Marc Cherry, creator and executive producer of ABC’s hit series “Desperate Housewives.” He majored in theatre at Cal State Fullerton, and the Sondheim song he will do from “Merrily We Roll Along” is one he performed in college. Also committed to appear are two of the singing Cassidy brothers—Shaun, the former teen star turned television producer who rarely performs any longer, and long-time S.T.A.G.E. supporter Patrick.

Broadway’s Len Cariou, Wilson Cruz, Tyne Daly, Nancy Dussault, Sally Ann Howes, Alice Ripley and event chair Betty Garrett are among those slated to appear on this year’s show. Also scheduled to perform are Jamie Anderson, Ann Hampton Callaway, Carole Cook, Kevin Earley, Randy Graff, Ronobir Lahiri, Sean McDermott, Linda Michele, Michele Nicastro, Michael Nouri, Valarie Pettiford, Charlotte Rae, Cathy Rigby, Joan Ryan, Andrew Samonsky, Kevin Spirtas, KT Sullivan, Rip Taylor and Lisa Vroman.

“By Side By Side By Side By Side by Stephen Sondheim” will feature selections from the repertoire of the one of the most prolific songwriters in theatre history. Stephen Sondheim is
the winner of eight Tony® Awards for musicals such as “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “Company,” “Follies,” “A Little Night Music,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Passion” and “Into the Woods” as well as a Pulitzer Prize for “Sunday In the Park with George.” In addition, he is also known for “Frogs,” “Bounce,” “Pacific Overtures” and the lyrics for “Do I Hear A Waltz?” “Gypsy” and “West Side Story.” David Galligan, S.T.A.G.E. veteran and winner of LA Stage Alliance’s 2005 Ovation Award for Career Achievement, will once again direct the program with musical direction from Gerald Sternbach.

Since its inception in 1984, S.T.A.G.E., the second fund-raising event ever created to fight AIDS, has raised millions of dollars for HIV/AIDS organizations throughout Southern California. This year, 100% of the proceeds from this event will go to AIDS Project Los
Angeles. APLA, one of the largest non-profit AIDS service organizations in the United States, 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.
This year’s “Producers STAGE Award” will be presented to theatre, film and television actress Judith Light in recognition of her ongoing commitment to the fight against AIDS. She volunteers her time to organizations such as Project Angel Food, Heart Strings and The NAMES Project, among many others. She is the first heterosexual to sit on the board of directors of the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Services Center, and the Center recently named its library after her. Established in 1996 and first presented to Stephen Sondheim, the “Producers STAGE Award” honors members of the theatre community for both their artistic skills and their dedication to the civic well-being of society with a special emphasis on service to the battle against HIV/AIDS.

Performances of BY SIDE BY SIDE BY SIDE BY SIDE BY STEPHEN SONDHEIM are set for Saturday, March 10 at 8:00PM and Sunday, March 11 at 3:00PM at the Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills, 8440 Wilshire Blvd.

For ticket information, call 323-656-9069 or visit: www.stagela.com

Official Website: http://www.stagela.com