Rae, Graff, Cariou, Etc. Set for March Sondheim Concert

Over two dozen stars set to perform in "Side By Side By Side By Side By Side by Stephen Sondheim," presented as this year's S.T.A.G.E. (Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event) benefit at the Wilshire Theatre in Beverly Hills.  The concert will take place on March 10th at 8 PM and 11th at 3 PM.

The benefit will feature the previously announced Shaun and Patrick Cassidy, with Len Cariou, Wilson Cruz, Tyne Daly, Nancy Dussault, Sally Ann Howes, Alice Ripley, Betty Garrett, 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, Lisa Vroman, as well as "Desperate Housewives" creator Marc Cherry (singing a song from Merrily We Roll Along).

The event will be directed by David Galligan with musical direction by Gerald Sternbach.

Stephen Sondheim's career has spanned nearly 50 years since his Broadway debut in 1957 as the lyricist for West Side Story. Along the way he has won seven Tony Awards, a Pulitzer Prize in Drama, an Academy Award and a 1993 Kennedy Center Lifetime Achievement Award.  He wrote the music and lyrics for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Anyone Can Whistle, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, The Frogs, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll Along, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Assassins, Passion and Bounce, as well as lyrics for West Side Story, Gypsy, Do I Hear a Waltz? and additional lyrics for Candide.  Film work includes Dick Tracy, Stavisky and Reds. 

Sondheim is currently represented on Broadway by John Doyle's revival of Company.

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

Visit www.stagela.com for more information.

Photo of Len Cariou by Shira Greenberg