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."
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.