Menzel, Buckley, Orfeh & Karl at Borders 2/14 for Love Beats AIDS

On Valentine's Day February 14, Idina Menzel, Betty Buckley, Legally Blonde stars Orfeh and Andy Karl, Peter Parnell, and the cast of Forbidden Broadway will make special appearances in New York City Borders stores as part of LOVE BEATS AIDS. 

Fans can download a coupon giving them 10% off their Valentine's Day purchases, and Borders will match the amount of that discount dollar-for-dollar in a donation to LIFEbeat - The Music Industry Fights AIDS.  Visit www.BeatAIDSNow.com for a complete schedule of performances and signings (including other non-theater celebs) and to download the discount coupon.

At noon, Broadway legend Betty Buckley lands at Borders Park Avenue at noon to sign her new CDs "Quintessence" and "Betty Buckley 1967."  Buckley is currently playing to sold-out crowds at Feinstein's with her new show "Now and Then."

Tony-winner Idina Menzel visits Borders Time Warner Center and signs her new CD "I Stand" at 12:30 PM.  Idina fans whom picked the CD up elsewhere will be joining the line on Valentine's Day to snag a copy of "I Stand," featuring the Borders Exclusive Track "God Give Me Strength" – available ONLY on copies purchased at Borders!

From Legally Blonde, Tony-nominated beautician Orfeh and her hunky UPS man Andy Karl – sweethearts on-stage and real-life husband-and-wife – will perform at 5PM at the Borders Kips Bay (32nd Street and Second Avenue).  The Sweethearts of the Great White Way will then sign copies of Legally Blonde, as well as CDs of the original cast recordings of some of their earlier stage triumphs, including Andy's Altar Boyz and Orfeh's The Great American Trailer Park Musical.

Back at Border's in the Time Warner Center, the take-no-prisoners gang from Forbidden Broadway: Rude Awakening will be tossing out its own satirical, unique take on the Broadway world with a special live performance and original cast CD signing at 5:30PM.  Don't worry, Broadway: they mean it in a loving way!

A special after-school story time for kids takes place at Borders on Second Avenue (at 32nd Street) at 3:30 PM as author Peter Parnell reads and signs his book "And Tango Makes Three," the children's book that tells the true story of two male penguins in the Central Park Zoo (who were a real-life couple) who adopt and raise an orphan baby penguin. Parnell is the author of Broadway's QED as well as numerous Off-Broadway plays including Flaubert's Latest, Romance Language and An Imaginary Life.

LIFEbeat uses the power of the music industry to raise funds for and to provide education about HIV/AIDS to young people nationwide.   Borders is a founding corporate sponsor for the charity's annual Bid 2 Beat AIDS celebrity auction, which has raised over $250,000 to date.  Visit www.BeatAIDSNow.com for more information.

EVENTS BY LOCATION:
Manhattan - Columbus Circle (inside the Time Warner Building)
10 Columbus Circle
212-823-9775
12:30 PM: Idina Menzel signs "I Stand"
5:30 PM: Forbidden Broadway: Rude Awakening Cast Performs and Signs CD

Manhattan - Park Ave
461 Park Avenue (Park & 57th)
212-980-6785
Noon: Betty Buckley signs "Quintessence" and "Betty Buckley 1967"

Manhattan - 32nd and 2nd (576 Second Ave)
212-685-3938
3:30 PM: Peter Parnell reads and signs "And Tango Makes Three"
5:15 PM: From Legally Blonde, Orfeh and Andy Karl perform and sign the CD