Jule Styne Centennial Celebration Benefit is Cancelled

By: Sep. 20, 2005
BC/EFA
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Let Us Entertain You: The Jule Styne Centennial Celebration has been cancelled. The star-studded benefit was to have been held on Tuesday, November 8th at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom with benefits to proceed Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

"BC/EFA regrets that the gala event celebrating Jule Styne's 100th birthday, Let Us Entertain You...has been canceled," explained executive director Tom Viola.  "Unfortunately the mounting costs of producing a live event for a high-end audience that would also be taped for broadcast were unsustainable. BC/EFA produces first class events. But we do that in order to fulfill our mission as a grant making organization to both The Actors' Fund and over 480 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide. Breaking-even is not an option. I deeply regret that we will cannot move forward on what certainly would have been a memorable evening. I especially appreciate the gracious understanding that Margaret Styne and the Styne office have brought to this difficult decision."

 Carol Channing (Hello, Dolly!, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), Barbara Cook (The Music Man, Candide, She Loves Me), Tyne Daly (Gypsy), Sandy Duncan (Peter Pan, Chicago), Angela Lansbury (Mame, Gypsy, Sweeney Todd), Brian Stokes Mitchell (Ragtime, Kiss Me, Kate), Leslie Uggams (Hallelujah, Baby, Thoroughly Modern Millie), and Patrick Wilson (the film of The Phantom of the Opera, Oklahoma!) had already been announced for the benefit, which was to have been directed by Richard Jay-Alexander.

Jule Styne wrote the music for such Broadway classics as Gypsy, Funny Girl, Bells Are Ringing and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Other scores for which he wrote music include Do Re Mi, Hallelujah, Baby!, Peter Pan and High Button Shoes.

BC/EFA has credited ticket purchases back into the accounts of buyers. For more information, visit www.broadwaycares.org.

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