All the World's a S.T.A.G.E. in AIDS Benefit

On Saturday evening, May 10, at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, veteran Los Angeles-based showman David Galligan unveils the latest edition of a beloved philanthropic venture that he co-founded with Michael Kearns and James Carroll Pickett in 1984. Producer-director Galligan's 30th annual production of S.T.A.G.E. (Southland Theater Artists Goodwill Events), the star-studded musical revue that serves as a benefit for AIDS Project Los Angeles and other AIDS charities, carries on a long-cherished tradition.

It all began as a grass-roots project launched by Galligan and his two associates in the early 1980s when the then-unnamed "gay cancer" first reared its ugly head within the GLBT community, and beyond. S.T.A.G.E. holds the distinction of being the longest-running AIDS benefit in the world.

This year's gala event, "S.T.A.G.E Goes to the Movies," hosted by revered journalist-movie guru Robert Osborne, of Turner Classic Movies, departs from S.T.A.G.E.'s more typical salutes of Broadway songs and composers for a walk down memory lane through the treasure trove of music in the movies. As usual, the roster of performers is dazzling.

Among the rising stars and veterans appearing this year, as announced at press time, are Obba Babatunde, Mary Beth Black, Debby Boone, Betty Buckley, Richard Chamberlain, Carole Cook, James Darren, David Engel, Julie Garnye, Mitzi Gaynor, Jason Gould, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Bill Hutton, Lainie Kazan, Heather MacRae, Jon Maher, Pat Marshall, Donna McKechnie, Patricia Morrison, Jeffrey Scott Parsons, Helen Reddy, Rex Reed, Jake Simpson, and Kevin Spirtas. Legendary celebrity columnist Rona Barrett will narrate a cinematic costume cavalcade.

Galligan, who also periodically produces similar musical benefit evenings for the Actors Fund, in conjunction with some of his S.T.A.G.E. producing colleagues, arrived from San Francisco in L.A. in 1957, at age 17, pursuing an acting career. He quips that his segue to a writing career began when a periodical publisher told him, "You're such a bitch. You should write for us."

The enthusiastic youth quickly donned other professional hats during his whirlwind journey, such as a publicist/talent manager and a tough-as-nails theater critic (at the legendary but defunct DramaLogue, which was absorbed into Back Stage West in 1998). The fearless Galligan adds that he reluctantly made his maiden voyage as director for a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle award ceremony during the 1980s, where he persuaded Julie Andrews to present a special award to Robert Preston, plus the participation of Charles Pierce, Donna McKechnie, and others.

He subsequently forged a career as an acclaimed and sought-after director-producer of plays, musicals, and cabaret/nightclub acts, working and residing in L.A., but also travelling to New York and elsewhere for myriad projects. Among the many notable actors he has directed and/or worked with as a coach or dramaturge are Leslie Jordan, Rita Moreno, Sally Struthers, Tyne Daly, Nancy Dussault, and more.

Performers of the caliber of Angela Lansbury, Carol Channing, and Patricia Morrison have volunteered their services for his charitable events. Among the most memorable highlights of a Galligan show to date occurred during an Actors Fund benefit, in which Lansbury descended a staircase singing "Hello Dolly!" Channing entered from an opposite area, lamenting "Someone is singing my song!' She promptly launched into a rendition of "Mame" and the two superstars of Jerry Herman musicals joined for a duet.

Among Galligan's many longtime friends and colleagues in the industry are thespian spouses Carole Cook and Tom Troupe. Cook, who appears in S.T.A.G.E. this year, as usual, has numerable credits, including the original Broadway and tour productions of "42nd Street," as producer-writer Maggie. She was a close friend and prot�g� of Lucille Ball, appearing in Desilu shows as a repertory actor, and made repeat appearances in two long-running series "The Lucy Show" and "Here's Lucy." She has co-starred with Troupe in such plays as "The Lion in Winter" at the Pasadena Playhouse (under Galligan's direction) and "The Gin Game." Cook was the first actress after Carol Channing to star in "Hello, Dolly!," heading the Australian production. Having appeared in 28 of the past STAGE shows, Cook proudly states that she only missed two, and only because was unable to get away from other performing commitments.

Says Cook, "David's performers come back again and again, because we're eager to do it, and not only for the cause. David knows exactly how to spotlight each performer's strengths, and brings out the best in them." She says that she and David started working on the show when AIDS was referred to as "the plague." She continues, "We had to explain to people what the charity was. It only cost 10 bucks to attend." There was never any real budget during the formative years. "Even though parking was only $3.50, we had to pay for that ourselves. We brought our own coffee," adds Cook. "My hairdresser from '42nd Street,' Russell Smith, who has died of AIDS, came for the third or fourth show, saying 'you need help with your hair.' That started people volunteering to do makeup for us, as well as hair and costumes. For three days, everyone would be there day and night, and local restaurants donated food."

She is thrilled to have Osborne narrating this year, calling it "a coup for us. He knows more about movies than anybody." She considers the use of a movie theme to be a fine choice. "Almost everything has been in the movies. Even '42nd Street' and 'Hello, Dolly!' are connected to both movies and the stage. We have a lot of new people this year, and our audiences are so fabulous. I can't thank them enough. They've watched me grow older and I've watched them grow older. Doing S.T.A.G.E. has always been a privilege and a joy. My husband even got to appear with me one time-singing 'Our Love is Here to Stay.' David had various couples-man/woman, man/man, woman/woman come out to sing that, and it was wonderful."

Publicist Scott Barton, a longtime friend and associate of Galligan's and a member of the S.T.A.G.E. executive committee, says that when S.T.A.G.E. began, there wasn't a specific group to collect funds for. "People wanting to make a contribution did so on a ground level. AIDS Project Los Angeles began the same year as S.T.A.G.E. did, but it wasn't a full-fledged organization."

Barton was also a member of the Commitment to Life event. He says S.T.A.G.E.'s proceeds have gone to various organizations over the years, such as Project Angel Food. Barton says that S.T.A.G.E. was "off and running" when the AIDS-inflicted Rock Hudson came out of the closet, and "the phone wouldn't stop ringing, including lots of star power." He adds, "After that, we raised money for everything that sprang up that deserved support. AIDS was affecting many friends and colleagues of everybody. Everyone wanted to participate whether it was to get on stage, or to attend. It was a powerful movement, and continued to grow."

"S.T.A.G.E. Goes to the Movies" will be performed on May 10, from 7:30 p.m. at the Saban Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, For tickets or information, visit www.stagela.com.