Photo Coverage: Opening Night of Howl! Art Project's RAISINETS IN THE SUNSHINE

Divine stars Charles Busch and Julie Halston take a night off from their own show "The Divine Sister" to visit the HOWL! ARTS PROJECT at Theater 80 in the East Village for a benefit performance of the TWEED Fractured Classick RAISINETS IN THE SUNSHINE. Also celebrating with the cast on Friday night were restaurateur Florent Morellet and a sold-out crowd of theatergoers.

RAISINETS IN THE SUNSHINE (which also runs Saturday, September 18 at 8pm) stars downtown favorites Clark Beasley, Rosa Currie, Flotilla DeBarge, Kyle Grooms, David Ilku, and Jodi Lennon. The production, which benefits HOWL H.E.L.P, is "fractured" by writer Stephen Pell, and directed by Kevin Malony.

A month-long program of non-stop music, film, theater, performance art, burlesque and drag entertainment, HOWL! ARTS PROJECT was conceived as a series of events taking place at a variety of downtown venues throughout September to benefit H.E.L.P. (Howl! Emergency Life
Project). H.E.L.P. is an emergency assistance fund, administered through The Actors Fund, supporting East Village artists. Howl! Arts Project presents wildly diverse programming at affordable costs to the whole family. Artists of all disciplines impart talent and pleasure galore as they showcase developing and finished work in traditional and experimental theatrical productions, gallery offerings and more.

Upcoming performances at Theatre 80 include the new plays SUGARED MEATINGS and THE FALL OF CAFE MUDAFIER TO THE TOLTECS (Sept 20 at 8pm); Tammy Faye Starlight in CHELSEA MADCHEN (Sept 21 at 8pm); the TWEED Music Series presents Carnaby Street: The Sensational Sixties (Sept 24 at 8pm); Rosie's Broadway Kids (Sept 25 & 26 at 2pm); David Caudle's THE SUNKEN LIVING ROOM (Sept 25 & 26 at 8pm); Our Lady J and The Train-to-Kill Gospel Choir present GOSPEL FOR THE GODLESS; and more.

HOWL! ARTS PROJECT continues throughout September at Theatre 80 (80 St. Marks Place). Tickets are $5-20; visit www.brownpapertickets.com or call 800-838-3066. Cash only at the door.

For more information, visit www.howlfestival.com.

Photo Credit: Nathaniel Siegel