The Story of a Community's Generosity

[mrdreamjeans]

In recent posts, I detailed the extra work our cast and crew put in to pull together last night’s “One Night Only” Cabaret Benefit at Club Fugazi. Monday, our last day off in San Francisco, was taken up with tech rehearsals and the performance. Members of our orchestra donated their time so that each number had a combo supporting the vocalists. Our Stage Manager, Don, worked with the crew from “Beach Blanket Babylon” to provide us with strong technical support. Our wardrobe supervisor Tony Ray and his assistant Nick created some very special costumes for the evening, including spiffy outfits for their very own drag personas. Love and service paid off.

The show, emceed by Carole Cook and featuring a guest appearance by Sharon McKnight, was exciting in the execution. I felt that all of my fellow singers and dancers gave their best effort and it made me very proud to see each of them shine at what they do best. For many of us, “Evita” is where we met and the only work we’ve seen each other do. Last night’s variety of material showed me how amazingly talented and versatile my peers really are. I’m a fan:)!

Thanks to sflonestar, gotmoof, castrowoof and blondage for attending the fundraiser and for Jim’s inclusion of Tim who was visiting from the Twin Cities. It made the evening very special for me! After the show, Jim and Tim were able to attend the dessert reception with me at Washington Street Grill, courtesy of a total stranger who offered me two extra tickets to the party. We stayed briefly, schmoozed a bit (which I’m not good at:) and walked back to my hotel. All in all, it was a terrifically rewarding evening.

The most wonderful part of this story is the ending. Due to the largesse of the people who attended our sold-out performance (which also included an auction), we raised $40,000 for the Richmond-Ermet AIDS Foundation and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. This is an amazing number for one night !

In addition, we’ve continued collecting for BC/EFA. We began six weeks ago in Spokane, continued during the two weeks in Los Angeles and just completed three weeks in the Bay Area. Our current total is over $63,000. The fund raising period ends April 18, coinciding with the Easter Bonnet Competition between casts of the current Broadway shows. With one week to go, our total for all of our fund- raising efforts is $103,015. It speaks to the exquisite generosity of Californians and Washingtonians, of San Franciscans and my live journal friends. Thank You!

Comments

[carharttmo.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a lovely evening! Always nice when things just come together!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Yes indeed!

[musicbearmn.livejournal.com]

fantastic! I have always thought it is so wonderful that the casts do this. It says and means a lot.

By the way, has a certain "package" arrived yet on your doorstep?

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Dan! I was contacted about a week ago that I had received a package at the office in Gaithersburg, MD, but that it was too large for them to send with the show mail. I authorized it to be sent to me at my expense. It is a big package marked Marshall Fields, but with no name on it. Is this from you? I am excited to discover what it contains, but it hasn't arrived here yet. Fingers crossed that it gets here before I leave! Hugs... and if it's from you...thank you for your generosity and thoughtfulness in advance:)

[musicbearmn.livejournal.com]

Yes, that would be from me :) Happy late birthday, Easter, early Juneteenth?

[abearius.livejournal.com]

That is a goodly chunk of change!




We stayed briefly, schmoozed a bit (which I’m not good at. . .
I can imagine you as a tongue-tied wallflower, but only if I close my eyes and pretend real hard! *giggle*

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it's not the first time you've closed your eyes and pretended real hard:) Hehehe! Thanks again for meeting me in the middle of your work day and for lunch! Hugs!

[dubious-one.livejournal.com]

kudos and congratulations

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thank you and howdy!

[sfbritskin.livejournal.com]

that is an awsome amount for one night - congrats for all the hard work you put in. I wish I could have gone, but unfortunately had a board meeting for Folsom :-(

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

You had your own planning to do:) I am astounded by the amount and we've added nearly another $3K since I wrote the post!

[gotmoof.livejournal.com]

It was such an exciting evening! Thank you for inviting us to a well done evening!!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

It was especially exciting because I had dear friends there supporting my work and efforts. I'm delighted Jim and you were there and that you got to hang with me during your visit! Someone said tonight that the show was videotaped, so maybe I'll get to see the parts of the show that I missed:) Hugs!

[gotmoof.livejournal.com]

Indeed, I spotted the video recording set up in the opposite balcony. If you can get your hands on the recording, I can try to clip your and post it for all your adoring internet fans to watch too. *rolls eyes*

[castrowoof.livejournal.com]

You guys did such an incredible job, Neil, and I felt so lucky to be able to attend and support BC/EFA.

Tim(Blondage) and I had a great time, and it was great to see Jim and Tim there as well. I still have goosebumps replaying some of the performances of the evening in my head.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the support, Ed!!! I really did think that it was an exciting evening and that my performing friends did a terrific job! It was nice to meet Tim (blondage) and to see your handsome face!

[sflonestar.livejournal.com]

Monday was one of those magical nights where everything came together flawlessly. I had a wonderful time. Definitely, a night to always remember!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I agree, my friend! You made it even more special with your thoughtful generosity. Hugs!

I'm dying to see!...

[tkn1114.livejournal.com]

Ok, Neil, will you PLEASE tell the home folks what you did in the benefit show?
You've gotta get a hold of a copy of that tape! It's the priceless memory of a time in your life that may never come again! I'm so proud of you, Houstonian! I can only hope I measure up when I premiere :) You know you're gonna have to 'leave your heart in SF' when you leave now? These grrrls are tremendous! Bravo SF!!!

Re: I'm dying to see!...

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I closed the first half of the benefit with the Josh Groban song "You Raise Me Up". It was easy to feel inspired while singing the song since I had dear friends and my peers cheering me on. I also participated in the opening and closing numbers and in a production number "I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise". Thanks for asking.

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

You totally rock! Congratulations! Lisa Vroman, former SF Phantom AIDS benefit doyenne (and my twin) will totally approve if she hears about this!!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I've only met Lisa a time or two through "Phantom"... I think the first time in Sacramento when she visited our company. They revere her here in SF in fundraising circles for her generosity and commitment of her time and her astounding talent.

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

Yep, no question that Lisa RAWKS. She and I were born on the same day, which is why I refer to her as my twin. :-)