Stage Page: After 33 Years, the S.T.A.G.E. one-night event wraps on May 13

I have attended the annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.) for the past several years and can guarantee it is one of the top entertainment/benefit shows presented in our city. After 33 years, this year’s event taking place on Saturday, May 13 at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, will be its final curtain call, featuring an all-star cast directed by David Galligan with Michael Orland returning as musical director. It’s an all-singing, all-dancing, glorious benefit featuring the finest talent, and I encourage you not to miss it.

This year’s S.T.A.G.E. event is titled Idols & Icons and will pay tribute to Stephen Sondheim, Shirley Bassey, Bob Fosse, George Michael, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Prince, and more. Stars of film, Broadway and television scheduled to appear in the concert that raises critical funds for APLA Health include India Carney, Carole Cook, Melinda Doolittle, Anthony Fedorov, Joely Fisher, Barrett Foa, Bill Hutton, Jane A Johnston, Dale Kristien, Vicki Lewis, Kimberley Locke, Jon Maher, Sharon McNight, Christine Pedi, Jai Rodriguez, Joan Ryan, Jake Simpson, and Nita Whitaker. And there are always surprise guests.

Founded in 1984, S.T.A.G.E. is the longest-running annual HIV/AIDS fundraiser in the world. To date, it has raised more than $5 million for HIV/AIDS organizations in the Southland. Co-created by Michael Kearns, the late James Carroll Pickett, David Galligan and Susan Obrow, S.T.A.G.E. continues to be a vital and essential fundraiser more than three decades later with David Galligan having staged and directed all 33 productions. At this year’s extravaganza, West Hollywood’s The Abbey Food and Bar owner David Cooley will be honored with the first-ever APLA Health Humanitarian Award. David has helped raise millions of dollars for APLA Health and other local organizations over the years.

Funds raised support an array of APLA Health’s services, including its Vance North Necessities of Life Program food pantries, health centers, home health services, housing assistance, HIV prevention and testing efforts, and many more services which those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS depend. This event is among the most enduring and valuable sources of private support for the agency’s HIV/AIDS care, prevention and advocacy work, making me sorry to see it end. See www.aplahealth.org for more information.

The Saban Theatre is located at 8440 Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills, and will open at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 13 for the event, with the show scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 / $80 / $125 / $175 / $250 and may be purchased by going to www.sabantheatre.com or Ticketmaster. Audience members under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult. For further information, go to www.stagela.com