Stage stars Patty Duke and Teal Wicks - currently of the San Francisco company of Wicked -- will join additional Wicked cast members and special guests Lucie Arnaz, Leanne Borghesi, Connie Champagne, RJ Helton, Motown Madness's Top Chef for a One Night Only Holiday Cabaret at J'LaChic Theatre 39 on Pier 39. The benefit will take place on Monday, December 7 at 7:30pm.
The benefit will support The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation of San Francisco. The evening will consist of performances by the Wicked cast of song of their own choice. The evening is designed to be high energy and full of holiday spirit.
Tickets for the event are $50 for performance only. For an additional $25, attendees can join the cast for the dessert party following the show at the Hard Rock Cafe, including a complimentary wine from R&B Cellars and desserts from Hard Rock Cafe, with a chance to meet the cast members up close and personal. Premium tickets, which additionally include preferred seating are $100. To purchase tickets and for more information, call 415-273-1620 or visit www.helpisontheway.org.
The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation (REAF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) Arts/AIDS organization dedicated to raising funds for AIDS service organizations in the Bay Area through the production of quality entertainment programs. REAF was founded by two mothers, Barbara Richmond and Peggy Ermet, who lost their only sons to AIDS as a way to honor their sons' memories and help alleviate the suffering of all the other sons and daughters living with HIV and AIDS. REAF began as a wholly volunteer-run agency, partnering with a single agency to produce a fundraising event called "Help is on the Way: San Francisco Cares." Today, REAF is still relies on a mostly volunteer Board and staff. "Help is on the Way" has become the Bay Area's largest annual AIDS benefit concert and one of the Bay Area's primary sources of funding for many local AIDS service agencies. REAF has also expanded their partnership services to include ten agencies this year and focuses not only on raising funds but also on creating public awareness that the AIDS epidemic is not yet over and that many agencies are struggling to survive. REAF strives to create community alliances to support these agencies on multiple levels. Overall, beneficiary agencies that have partnered with REAF have reported increased overall giving levels, both financial and in-kind, through increased exposure to media, corporations and individual donors. Volunteerism to their agencies is also increased. REAF strives to build teamwork and cooperation among benefiting agencies through these annual partnerships.
