HELP IS ON THE WAY XVII to Feature Shirley Jones, Jai Rodriguez, & More

The Richmond / Ermet AIDS Foundation presents...
HELP IS ON THE WAY XVII: Gala Celebration

17th Annual Gala - Northern California's Largest Annual Star-studded AIDS Benefit Concert & Gala

SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2011 - HERBST THEATRE in SF

Benefiting 4 Bay Area AIDS Service Organizations

Including... Shirley Jones, Susan Anton, Jai Rodriguez, Patrick Cassidy, Thea Gill, Carole Cook, TIM HOCKENBERRY, Levi Kreis?, PRINCE POPPYCOCK?, LA TOYA LONDON, Paula West and more. (see full cast list below.)

THE RICHMOND / ERMET AIDS FOUNDATION is proud to present HELP IS ON THE WAY XVII:
Gala Celebration - 17th Annual Gala. This year's all-star benefit concert features celebrities from Broadway, TV, Film and the recording industry. It's jazz, pop and live performance, up close and personal, from some of your favorite performers.

The 4 Bay Area AIDS Service Agencies that are the beneficiaries this year include:

Aguilas • Shanti • STOP AIDS Project •
YouthAware Program at New Conservatory Theatre Center

Sunday, August 21 at THE HERBST THEATRE, 401 Van Ness Ave. in SF 94102

Pre-show Silent Auction (Main Lobby): 5:00 - 7:30 pm
Pre-show VIP Reception: (Green Room) 5:00 - 6:00 pm
(featuring complimentary hors d'oeuvres, wine tastings and martini & margarita bars)
Pre-show Gala Reception: 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Concert: 7:30 - 10:00 pm.
Underwriter Dessert & Wine After Party with the cast: 10:00 - 11:45 pm.
General Reserved Seating - Performance only - Tickets $75
Gala tickets (includes pre-show gala reception - $125
www.cityboxoffice.com / 415/ 392- 4400

Gala pre-show reception, performance & post-show reception with cast - Tickets $175
www.helpisontheway.org / 415/ 273- 1620

Doors open for the general public at 7:00 pm
Visit our web site for additional info www.reaf.org or call 415/ 273 -1620

The 2010 star-studded Cast for this year's gala feature stars from Broadway, Film, TV
and the music industry, including (in alphabetical order...):

Susan Anton Broadway (Will Rogers Follies) TV (Baywatch) star
JASON BROCK Cabaret star
Patrick Cassidy B'way (42nd Street, Assassins) / TV (Longtime Companions) / film star
Carole Cook Broadway (42nd Street, Radio Gals) TV / film star
Thea Gill? TV (Queer As Folk, Dante's Cove) / film (Remembering Nigel) star
TIM HOCKENBERRY Jazz / Cabaret star
Shirley Jones? Academy Award (Elmer Gantry) winning actress (Oklahoma, The Music Man)
Levi Kreis? 2010 Tony Award-winning Broadway (Million Dollar Quartet) star
LA TOYA LONDON ?American Idol star & Broadway (The Color Purple) star
PRINCE POPPYCOCK? TV's America's Got Talent (4th place) finalist
Jai Rodriguez Broadway (Rent, The Producers) / TV (Queer Eye) star
Lisa Vroman? Broadway (Phantom of the Opera, Les Miz) / star
Paula West Jazz / Cabaret star
WHITE TREE FINE ART? Ethan & Nikki White - SF Based - Finalist on Paula Abdul's Live to Dance
Jon Maher? Sign language interpreter

(Cast list as of 5/21/11)
Producers: Joe Seiler & Ken Henderson
Director: David Galligan

Musical Director Richard Berent?
To get photos and bios of any of the performers go to http://www.tinyurl.com/epy5fj2
HELP IS ON THE WAY 17 is produced by The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation, founded by Barbara Richmond and the late Peggy Ermet in memory of their sons, John Richmond and Doug Ermet, who both lost their lives to AIDS. In 1995, the two women decided not to get mad but get even when they launched a musical AIDS benefit to honor their sons by raising funds for AIDS service organizations. To date REAF has raised well over $2.5 million dollars for AIDS services.
UNDERWRITER TICKETS:
Underwriter level tickets range from $150 and up, with increasing levels of benefits including listing in the programs, preferred seating, gala pre-show black-tie reception and post-performance dessert reception with the cast and other perks. A portion of the Underwriter level tickets help underwrite the cost of the event. An extensive silent auction precedes the show starting at 5:00 pm.
PERFORMANCE & PRE-SHOW GALA TICKETS are $125.
GENERAL RESERVED SEATING TICKETS (Performance ONLY) are $75.
For tickets or additional. information please visit our website
http://www.reaf.org or call 415/ 273 - 1620
To arrange interviews with Shirley Jones, Patrick Cassidy, Susan Anton, Thea Gill, Levi Kreis, Prince Poppycock, Carole Cook, or any of the performers, or with Executive Director Ken Henderson, call publicist, Lawrence Helman at 415 / 661-1260.
CALENDAR EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:
WHAT: THE RICHMOND / ERMET AIDS FOUNDATION presents...
HELP IS ON THE WAY XVII: Gala Celebration -- 17th Annual Gala
Northern California's Largest Annual Star-studded AIDS Benefit Concert & Gala

Benefiting 4 Bay Area AIDS Service Organizations:

Aguilas • Shanti • STOP AIDS Project •
YouthAware Program at New Conservatory Theatre Center

WHEN: SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2011
WHERE: THE HERBST THEATRE, 401 Van Ness Avenue in SF 94102
WHO: Shirley Jones, Susan Anton, Jai Rodriguez, Patrick Cassidy, Thea Gill, Carole Cook, TIM HOCKENBERRY, Levi Kreis?, PRINCE POPPYCOCK, LA TOYA LONDON, Paula West, and more
SHOW TIMES:

Pre-show Silent Auction (Main Lobby): 5:00 - 7:30 pm
Pre-show VIP Reception: (Green Room) 5:00 - 6:00 pm
(featuring complimentary hors d'oeuvres, wine tastings and martini bars)
Pre-show Gala Reception: 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Concert: 7:30 - 9:30 pm.
Underwriter Dessert & Wine After Party with the cast: 10:00 - 11:45 pm.
TICKETS:

General Reserved Seating - Performance only Tickets - $75

Doors open for the general public at 7:00 pm
Gala Tickets includes pre-show gala reception - $125
www.cityboxoffice.com / 415/ 392- 4400

Gala pre-show reception, performance & post-show reception with Cast - Tickets $150
www.helpisontheway.org / 415/ 273- 1620

GALA UNDERWRITER TICKETS:
Underwriter tickets are $150 and include the pre-performance Gala reception, the performance and dessert party with the cast after the show. Gala pre-show reception and performance - Tickets $125
GENERAL RESERVED SEATING TICKETS: (Performance ONLY) are $75.
For tickets or additional information please visit our website
WEB SITE: http://www.reaf.org 415 / 273 - 1620
The Herbst Theatre is wheelchair accessible.
Help is on the Way is a black-tie gala featuring stars from Broadway, film, TV and the recording industry.

This three-tiered event consists of a pre-performance black-tie reception for corporate sponsors, Gala ticket holders and Underwriters, featuring fine wines from top California wineries, special spirits bars, and hors d'oeuvres from SF's best restaurants and caterers; a Broadway-quality concert; and a post-performance champagne and dessert reception with the cast for sponsors and Underwriters. An extensive silent auction coincides beginning at 5:00 pm and concludes at the end of intermission.