Only Make Believe Benefit Nov. 1

Broadway favorites Harvey Fierstein, Dick Latessa, Euan Morton, Christiane Noll, Alix Korey, Chad Kimball, Kate Shindle, Julia Murney, Anne Runolfsson, Isabel Rose, Anika Larsen, and Bon Jovi keyboard player David Bryan will gather for a one-night only benefit for Only Make Believe, hosted by Hayley Mills and Brad Oscar, on Monday, November 1 at 7 p.m. at SHOW (135 West 41st Street). The event will be directed by Joe DiPietro, with musical direction by Seth Rudetsky.

Karen LeFrak is being honored with the 2004 James Hammerstein Award for her outstanding dedication and achievement in reaching out to children in need.

Only Make Believe is dedicated to the principle that freeing a child's creative spirit is a valuable part of the healing process. With a professional troupe of multi-racial, multi-ethnic actors, Only Make Believe actively engages the children in performance, treating them as collaborators in a theatrical experience. This is the key to the success of Only Make Believe: Each child takes an active part in a cycle of fantastic and imaginative adventures.

Each Only Make Believe cycle consists of six one-hour workshops. The actors arrive at the facility armed with a trunk load of colorful costumes, props and backdrops, prepared to lead the children on an exciting theatrical journey. The stories are scripted in such a way as to help the children deal with their fears and problems, but are acted out with plenty of room for improvisation to encourage their participation and keep the experience fresh and fun. At the end of the cycle, the trunk is left behind as a gift to the facility, encouraging play even after the Only Make Believe sessions are complete.

The Only Make Believe program debuted in October 1999 at Rusk Institute's Pediatric Unit of the NYU Hospitals Center as a project of the James and Dena Hammerstein Foundation. Since then, the program has expanded to 16 hospitals providing hundreds of workshops to thousands of children in New York City medical facilities. Dena Hammerstein established Only Make Believe in memory of her husband (son of Oscar Hammerstein), his dedication to the theater, and her passionate love for children in need. The concept of Only Make Believe developed out of Dena's desire to introduce disadvantaged children living with chronic illnesses and disabilities to the magical world of theater. Since trips to the theater would be too overwhelming for many of the children, Dena decided to bring the theater to them, helping to create a unique version of live theater in which each child plays an integral part. In June 2003, Dena Hammerstein was chosen to receive The United Hospital Fund's Humanitarian Award in recognition of her extraordinary volunteer leadership and efforts to enhance the lives of children.

The one-night-only benefit for Only Make Believe will take place on Monday, November 1 at 7 p.m. at SHOW (135 West 41st Street). Tickets are $150 (performance only) and $250 (including the post-performance celebration at Bryant Park Grill). For tickets or further information, please call 646-336-1500. http://www.onlymakebelieve.org/