Cheyenne Jackson, Kelly Rowland to Perform at Cinema Against AIDS Tonight

According to a tweet, Kenneth Cole just arrived in Toronto with Cheyenne Jackson and Kelly Rowlands, who will be among tonight's performers at the Cinema Against AIDS event at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Cinema Against AIDS Toronto is a black-tie gala that will feature a cocktail reception, dinner, live auction, and entertainment. The event, now in its second year, is held during the Toronto International Film Festival and benefits both amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research and Dignitas International. It will be held at the prestigious Carlu on September 12, 2010.

Last year, Michelle Yeoh, Sarah Ferguson, duchess of York, Sarah McLachlan, Deborah Cox, Miranda Richardson, Eve, Bill Nighy, Verne Troyer, Terry Gilliam, and James Purefoy were among those who came out to support the fight against AIDS at the inaugural Cinema Against AIDS Toronto, which raised more than $700,000. amfAR ambassador and event chair Michelle Yeoh opened the evening at the Carlu by welcoming the crowd of more than 350 guests and applauding the partnership between amfAR and Dignitas, two organizations dedicated to defeating the AIDS pandemic through innovative research and determined activism.

amfAR's first Cinema Against AIDS benefit, hosted by the Foundation's founding international chairman, Dame ElizaBeth Taylor, was held in Cannes during the 1993 International Film Festival. Since then, this annual black-tie gala has established itself as the most consistently exciting and well-publicized party held during the festival. Due to the immense and continued success of the Cinema Against AIDS event in Cannes, amfAR has expanded the series to benefits held in conjunction with the international film festivals in Dubai, Rome, Venice, and Park City, Utah (Sundance).

Jackson is an award winning stage and film actor who starred as Woody in the Broadway revival of Finian's Rainbow at the St. James Theatre. Cheyenne also rocked the house as Sonny Malone in the smash hit Xanadu (Drama League, Drama Desk nominations) on Broadway. Off and on Broadway he starred as Joe Hardy in the New York City Center production of Damn Yankees opposite Jane Krakowski and Sean Hayes, Nicky Silver's The Agony & the Agony with Victoria Clark, All Shook Up (Theater World Award, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle nomination) the premier cast of Altar Boyz, Aida, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Cartells, On The 20th Century and The 24 Hour Plays.

Jackson's film credits include the Oscar nominated United 93, Curiosity and Hysteria. He has guest starred on TV in "30 Rock," "Ugly Betty," "Lipstick Jungle" and "Life After Mars." Additionally, he portrayed "Sebastian Kinglare" for the Sony/Lifetime Television pilot "Family Practice." Cheyenne made his sold-out club debut in with his show "Back to the Start" at Feinstein's at Loews Regency earlier this year.

Kelly Rowland is an American singer and entertainer. Born in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in Houston, Texas, Rowland rose to fame in the late 1990s as one of the founding members of the girl group Destiny's Child. Her total record sales, when combined with the group, have surpassed 60 million.

Rowland's film and TV credits include "The Hughley's," "Eve," "Girlfriends," "American Dreams," "Freddy vs. Jason," "The Seat Filler," and more.

 

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

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