Downstage Center Features Rubin-Vega, Benincasa & Viola

By: Dec. 15, 2006
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The American Theatre Wing and XM Satellite Radio proudly present interviews with actress Daphne Rubin-Vega and executive directors Joseph P. Benincasa and Tom Viola, of The Actors Fund and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, respectively, on their weekly theatrical interview show, "Downstage Center," on XM's On Broadway (XM Channel 28). Rubin-Vega will appear as the special guest on Friday, December 15 at 6 p.m. The show will repeat on Saturday, December 16 at noon, Sunday, December 17 at 7 p.m., and Wednesday, December 20 at midnight.

In her interview, Rubin-Vega talks about the challenge of tackling the "classic" music of Les Miserables after being known for rock-oriented show music, and why she feels a bit lonely as Fantine in Les Miz; chronicles how she transitioned from fine arts to rock and roll to theatre; recalls the origins of RENT at New York Theatre Workshop; and explains why she wanted to take a two- month break from her fourth Broadway show in order to do a four-character play off-Broadway with LAByrinth Theatre Company in 2007.

Benincasa and Viola will appear together as the special guests on Friday, December 22 at 6 p.m. The show will repeat on Saturday, December 23 at noon, Sunday, December 24 at 7 p.m., and Wednesday, December 27 at midnight.

The leaders of the two best known theatre-based charitable groups, Benincasa and Viola talk about the wide range of work done by their two organizations, their origins more than 100 years apart, the symbiotic relationship between them, and how they manage to produce such elaborate entertainments as a means of raising funds for their worthy causes.

Rubin-Vega first appeared on Broadway as Mimi in the RENT, for which she won the Theatre World Award, and received Tony Award and Drama Desk nominations for Best Actress in a Musical. In 2001, she returned to Broadway as Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show. Other credits include Broadway's Anna in the Tropics, Bernarda Alba at Lincoln Center Theatre, Karen Hartman's Gum (Women's Project), Sofia in Nilo Cruz's Two Sisters and a Piano (Public). Film credits include Wild Things (Blockbuster Entertainment Award) and Flawless. Rubin-Vega won Best Actress in a Feature Film from the NY Independent Film and Video Festival for her performance in Skeleton Woman.  Rubin-Vega is a member of LAByrinth Theater as well as the Drama Dept.

Benincasa became the executive director of The Actors' Fund of America in 1990. He currently oversees innovative programs including comprehensive social services, health care services, employment and training, and affordable and supportive housing. He serves on the boards of directors of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS; MusiCares; National Theatre Workshop of the Handicapped; Career Transition for Dancers; Times Square Alliance; St. Peter 's University Medical Center; New York Society of Association Executives (Chair); Bio-Reference Laboratories; and the Somerset Patriots, a minor league baseball team.

Viola was the founding administrative director of Equity Fights AIDS in 1988, and saw through its merge with Broadway Cares in 1992. He has been executive director  of BC/EFA since 1997, which stands as the nation's leading industry-based not-for-profit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organization. Since its founding in 1987, BC/EFA has raised more $50 million for critically needed services for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families nationwide.

Each new "Downstage Center" program is regularly broadcast at 6 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays at noon, Sundays at 7 p.m. and Wednesdays at 12 a.m. (all times EST). Following the initial run on XM, each program is made available for free, on-demand, internationally as both streaming audio and podcast on ATW's Web site, www.americantheatrewing.org.  Visit www.xmradio.com for more information.


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