The Secret Garden Concert Announced for World AIDS Day December 5

On December 5th, 2005, to commemorate World AIDS Day, the same team that brought last year's acclaimed PIPPIN Concert, is proud to present a concert presentation of Marsha Norman and Lucy Simon's The Secret Garden.

The Secret Garden opened on Broadway in April of 1991 and quickly became one of the most beloved family musicals of all time. Pulitzer-Prize winning playwright Marsha Norman was responsible for the Tony-Award winning book and lyrics (based on the novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett) and renowned singer/songwriter Lucy Simon wrote the score. The musical also earned a Tony Award for Heidi Landesman's stunning scenic design and for the youngest actress ever to earn a Tony Award, Daisy Eagan.

The concert is being presented by Artistic Producer Jamie McGonnigal, who (along with Kate Shindle), was responsible for the World AIDS Day Pippin and Children of Eden Concerts, in addition to benefit concerts for organizations including The Matthew Shepard Foundation, National AIDS Fund, God's Love We Deliver and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. This year's production team will also include producers Brad Bauner, Adam Caldwell, Josh Fiedler and Ryan Hill.

Last year's sold-out PIPPIN Concert featured a cast of more than 130, including Rosie O'Donnell, Michael Arden, Charles Busch, Laura Benanti, All My Children's Cameron Mathison, Billy Porter, Darius DeHaas, Terrence Mann and a retun to his Tony-Award Winning role by Ben Vereen.

This year, the proceeds will be benefiting The Joey DiPaolo AIDS Foundation and Camp TLC (Teens Living with a Challenge), a residential summer camp program for teens living with HIV/AIDS. JDAF was created in 1996 by Carol DiPaolo and her son Joey, when Joey was four (1984) he was infected with the HIV virus from a blood transfusion during open-heart surgery. At age ten Joey and family attended Camp Sunburst in California. Empowered and motivated by the camp experience both mother and son began public speaking in 1990 bringing AIDS education to parents, faculty, and students throughout the country. After becoming national AIDS spokespersons for several AIDS organizations, Carol and Joey decided to establish The Joey DiPaolo AIDS Foundation (JDAF). This foundation is motivated by compassion and hope for young people who are living with HIV/AIDS. The Centers for Disease Control reports that 51% of all new HIV infections in the U.S. occur in young people under 25, with that statistic in mind, Joey and Carol have provided over 500 AIDS prevention and education programs nationwide. With AIDS a serious global issue, JDAF is extending their Camp TLC program to positive teens living outside the US, in countries devastated by the AIDS pandemic. For more information about JDAF/Camp TLC visit www.jdaf.org.

The co-benefactor and co-presenter of the event is The Storm Theatre. Founded in 1997 as a non-profit theatre company, The Storm has been producing new and classic works that offer audiences compelling documentation of what it means to be human. While struggling after the effects of 9/11, they are just beginning to re-emerge as one of New York's most exciting success stories.

Tickets for The Secret Garden will go on sale in mid-October and sponsorship opportunities are available by emailing SecretGardenInfo@aol.com. Currently seeking Private, Corporate and Media sponsorships.