Espinosa, Etc. to Perform Songs from Past Concerts, 12/4

Eden Espinosa (Wicked, the upcoming Rags Concert), Michael Arden (The Times They are a Changin', Pippin and The Secret Garden World AIDS Day Concerts) and Marty Thomas (Wicked, Pippin World AIDS Day Concert) will all perform songs from the past World AIDS Day Concerts in celebration of this year's concert of the musical, Rags.

The evening will be presented as part of The Curtain Call concert series at Splash on Monday, December 4th. The event will be co-hosted by Thomas and Joey DiPaolo of The Joey DiPaolo AIDS Foundation, which benefits from the World AIDS Day Concert.

Cast members from the past and current World AIDS Day Concerts will perform tunes from the concerts following the weekly "Musical Mondays" video presentations of Broadway performances. The event is scheduled to begin at 11:30 PM.

The 4th Annual World AIDS Day Concert presentation of Rags will be held December 11 at the Nokia Theater (1515 Broadway at W44th Street). The 7 PM concert will boast the talents of Carolee Carmello as Rebecca, Gregg Edelman as Nathan, Eden Espinosa as Bella, David A. Austin as Ben, Michael Rupert as Avram, Lainie Kazan as Rachel, Lewis Cleale as Saul, John Treacy Egan as Big Tim, Struan Erlenborn as David, Max von Essen as an American and Stacia Fernandez as Rosa with Aaron Berk, David Josefsberg, Lisa Jolley, Anne L. Nathan and Colin Hanlon. MTV news correspondent Sway will host the evening.

The World AIDS Day Concerts were founded in 2003 by Jamie McGonnigal and Kate Shindle to help raise awareness of the health holiday, and to establish community within the theatre community. The inaugural concert marked the New York professional premiere of Stephen Schwartz and John Caird's Children of Eden, and was performed at the stunning Riverside Cathedral. The concerts have garnered international acclaim while raising much-needed funds and awareness for organizations catering to the HIV/AIDS Community. For information on the past World AIDS Day events and eventually the most up-to-date info on this year's event, you can visit www.WorldAIDSDayConcert.org.

As with last year's event, the proceeds will be benefiting The Joey DiPaolo AIDS Foundation and Camp TLC (Teens Living with a Challenge), a residential summer camp program for teens living with HIV/AIDS. JDAF was created in 1996 by Carol DiPaolo, and her son Joey. When Joey was four (1984) he was infected with the HIV, (the virus that causes AIDS) from a blood transfusion during open-heart surgery. At age ten, Joey and family attended Camp Sunburst in California. Empowered and motivated by the camp experience both mother and son began public speaking in 1990 bringing AIDS education to parents, faculty, and students throughout the country. The Centers for Disease Control reports that 51% of all new HIV infections in the U.S. occur in young people under 25, with that statistic in mind, Joey and Carol have provided over 500 AIDS prevention and education programs nationwide. With AIDS a serious global issue, JDAF is extending their Camp TLC program to positive teens living outside the US, in countries devastated by the AIDS pandemic. For more information about JDAF/Camp TLC visit www.jdaf.org.

Splash Bar is located in Manhattan at 50 West 17th Street. Admission is free until 10 PM; there is a $5 charge after that time. Attendees must be 21 or older with identification.

The Rags Concert will take place on Monday, December 11th at 7PM. Tickets for Rags are currently on sale via www.ticketmaster.com, in person at the Nokia Theatre box office or by phone at (212) 307-7171.  Sponsor tickets including invitations to the after party and autographed show posters are available by contacting RagsConcert@aol.com or by calling 347-431-9102.