Sara Ramirez and Carson Kressley Set to Host Al D. Rodriguez Liver Foundation Benefit Gala on 5/30

On Saturday May 30th 2009 Tony Winner Sara Ramirez star of " Grey's Anatomy" and "Spamalot" and Emmy Winner Carson Kressley host of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" and "How to Look Good Naked" will be hosting the first benefit gala event for the Al D. Rodriguez Liver Foundation. The event will take place at The Brandon Fradd Theatre at Whyte Hall in Fire Island Pines, Long Island, NY starting at 6PM. Ms. Ramirez and Mr. Kressley have united forces to honor their close friend Al D. Rodriguez, an actor, performer, producer, mentor, and creative tour de force with an evening of music and film.

In the feature spotlight presentation, Mr. Kressley will introduce a special advance screening of "MAKING OF THE BOYS" -- recently named an official selection of the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival. The exciting new documentary, directed by award-winning filmmaker Crayton Robey ("WHEN OCEAN MEETS SKY" -- with Al D. Rodriguez as Associate Producer) explores the complicated back story, drama and history behind Mart Crowley's controversial, groundbreaking gay play and subsequent film, "THE BOYS IN THE BAND" which still causes stirs at its mention. Blending never-before-seen archival footage with interviews, "MAKING THE BOYS" features appearances by: Mart Crowley, Robert Wagner, Terrence McNally, Larry Kramer, Edward Albee, Paul Rudnick, Candys Cayne and benefit co-host Carson Kressley, to name a few.

After the screening, Sara Ramirez will perform a song in honor of the 40th Anniversary of the groundbreaking Stonewall riots. Guests who purchase a VIP ticket will proceed to enjoy a "musical salon" by Ms. Ramirez and her Broadway friends at the Fire Island Pines' bay-front home of Dr. Ed Schulhafer and Crayton Robey. Cocktails and light summer fare will be served.

There will be a silent auction during the first part of the benefit gala. Renowned, New York-based painter/fashion surrealist, ALVARO, has committed to donating a work of art to the foundation, in honor of the benefit night's proceedings. His signature works can be found in the personal art collections of many luminaries, including: Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Denise Rich, Judith Regan, Naomi Campbell, Jean Paul Gaultier, Iman and David Bowie, to name a few.

In addition, d'mai urban spa an upscale day spa located in Park Slope, Brooklyn will be donating a "Transformation Journey" spa package. This spa package is 5 1/2 hours of pure indulgence and includes a Signature massage, Rebalance facial, Bamboo scrub, d'mai manicure and pedicure as well as a spa lunch.

TICKETS: Tickets prices for the event are as follows: General Admission: $75.00 and VIP Admission: $150.00

For more information please visit, www.aldrodriguezliverfoundation.com.

The Al D. Rodriguez Liver Foundation was founded on July 30, 2008 after the untimely death of Al D. Rodriguez - who was only 45 years old when he was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. Al passed away a month and a half after his diagnosis. Those who were lucky enough to know Al knew that he was full of life, had a bright future and was fiercely loved by his friends and family.

The ADRLF is a non-profit organization founded in memory of Al D. Rodriguez and embodies a commitment to Al by: fostering education through links on our website about timely and relevant articles; connecting people to health care resources that do not discriminate based on the inability to pay; strengthening our relationships with performing artists through staged readings and benefit fundraisers; and providing universal education about antiviral therapies for the Hepatitis virus. For more information go to: www.AlDRodriguezLiverFoundation.com

Our mission is to educate people about the relationship between chronic infection of the Hepatitis Virus and its association with Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) - which is the most common cause of liver cancer. 

Tony Award© winner Sara Ramirez can be seen as a series regular on ABC's top-rated television drama "Grey's Anatomy" reprising her role as orthopedic surgeon ‘Dr. Callie Torres'. The cast of "Grey's Anatomy" received the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series - Drama (2007), the Screen Actor's Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2007), the Producer's Guild Award for Best Episodic Television Drama (2007) and the People's Choice Award for Favorite Television Dramatic Series (2007). Prior to "Grey's Anatomy," she was seen in the Broadway smash-hit "Monty Python's Spamalot" as ‘Lady of the Lake,' for which she earned both a Tony Award© for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical and an Outer Critics Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical. Sara graduated from the Juilliard Drama School. Shortly after graduation, she made her Broadway debut starring as ‘Wahzinak' in Paul Simon's "The Capeman." Following "The Capeman," she starred in Gershwin's "Fascinating Rhythm," for which she received an Outer Critics Circle nomination for Best Actress. In 2001, she was in Broadway's "A Class Act," a musical biography based on the life of Ed Kleban, in the role of Felicia. Off Broadway, Sara has performed in "The Vagina Monologues" with Tovah Feldshuh and Suzanne Bertish.

Sara recently worked with youngsters in narrating Prokofiev's "Peter & the Wolf" in performances by the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra. Her concerts have included "Martinis" at the Martin, "Sara Ramirez with Hollis Resnik at the Ravinia," "Bravo Bernstein" (MTW's 20th Anniversary Gala Concert) at the Hudson Theatre, and The Barrington Stage Company Gala where she sang "Wanting Her More" from "The Game" to name a few. Sara has started a liver foundation in memory of her best friend, Al D. Rodriguez, who passed away from liver cancer this past summer. Please visit www.aldrodriguezliverfoundation.com for more information.

"Grey's Anatomy" shoots in Los Angeles. Most of Sara's professional roots are in NYC.

 

Accomplished stylist, breakout television star, equestrian, author and fashion designer, Carson Kressley is out to make-over the world. Kressley was one of the stars of the hit original series "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy" for the Bravo Network for which he received a prime time Emmy award in 2004. He is also a New York Times best-selling author - with his most recent foray the critically acclaimed children's book "You're Different, And That's Super!" His sharp wit and undeniable sense of style made him one of the standouts of the Queer Eye. Airing in over 95 countries, the cultural impact of the show has proven to be been tremendous, helping to bring gay culture to mainstream American audiences. Kressley recently launched, to great success, his new collection of women's wear and men's wear, Perfect by Carson Kressley, exclusively on QVC. The collection for women includes career staples while the collection for men focuses on rich outerwear pieces. An industry veteran, Kressley is known for his modern and sophisticated approach to fashion, which he has translated into a "classics with a twist" line of separates and accessories.

Kressley made a cameo appearance in the holiday re-make of "The Year Without a Santa Clause," starring John Goodman (2006). He recently co-starred in the film "The Perfect Man" with Heather Locklear, Hilary Duff and Chris Noth (2005.) His most recent television projects include CW's "Crowned" and Lifetime's "How to Look Good Naked", which debuted in 2008 as the Lifetime Network's highest rated reality show in its history. In addition to doing his part in helping to bridge the gap between peoples of different genders and sexual orientations, Kressley is an avid philanthropist, championing a wide array of charities and organizations. A strong supporter of many gay rights causes, he lends his celebrity to the Human Rights Campaign Federal Club, AIDS Walk in New York, GLAAD (The Gay and Lesbian Association Against Defamation), Gilda's Club, The Trevor Project , GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network) and LIGALY. Kressley was a major donor in establishing the first college scholarship program for gay youth in his hometown of Allentown, Penn. He is also an avid nationally ranked equestrian and a former member of the U.S. World Cup Equestrian Team. Kressley currently resides in New York.

Alvaro is a renowned painter/illustrator who has become popular in the fashion and entertainment industries. He was born in Brooklyn New York in 1963, and raised in the Bronx. Alvaro's father worked as a film cutter and often brought home old films that he showed on a rickety film projector. As a youngster, Alvaro was inspired by the images of iconic actresses such as, Garbo, Harlow, Taylor and Monroe. Imbued with admiration for the beauty and strength of women, and so began Alvaro's long obsession with fashion culture, pop and surreal art, and drawing the female figure.

Recently Alvaro has completed a collection of stylized sardonic magazine covers. The paintings are an exercise in political incorrectness, which parodies well-known publications, featuring portraits of some the most famous, and infamous people, icons and characters of the 20th century. Alvaro's extraordinary eye for and affinity for bright colors makes the collection exuberant and engaging. His affection for each icon is clear in the detail of his work. Currently Alvaro is working on a collection of surreal portraits featuring some of the most iconic artists of the previous century.

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