HELP IS ON THE WAY XV On 8/2 To Feature Tyne Daly, John Lloyd Young, Joely Fisher, & More

The Richmond / Ermet Aids Foundation presents HELP IS ON THE WAY XV: NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOWBUSINESS, the 15th Anniversary Gala and Northern California's Largest Annual Star-studded AIDS Benefit Concert & Gala. HELP IS ON THE WAY XV will be held Sunday, August 2, 2009 at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco, benefiting four Bay Area AIDS service organizations.

Including... Susan Anton, Jim Bailey, Tyne Daly, John Lloyd Young, Joely Fisher, MELINDA DOOLITTLE, JEANIE TRACY, and more.

This year's all-star benefit concert features celebrities from Broadway, TV and Film including American Idol stars. 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 •? AIDS Legal Referral Panel • PAWS (Pets Are Wonderful Support) • Shanti.

Sunday, August 2 at THE HERBST THEATRE, 401 Van Ness Ave. in SF.

Pre-show Gala Reception & Silent Auction: 5:00 - 7:30 pm (featuring complimentary hors d'oeuvres, wine tastings and martini & margarita bars). Concert: 7:30 - 9:30 pm. Dessert & Wine After Party with the cast: 9:30 - 11:45 pm. General Reserved Seating - Performance only - Tickets $75. www.cityboxoffice.com / 415/ 392- 4400.

Gala pre-show reception, performance & post-show reception with Cast - Tickets $175. Gala pre-show reception and performance - Tickets $125. 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 2009 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
BAULPOINTPEN Musical comedy duo Ben McLain & Paul Peglar
CATE CAPLAN & Gary Franco Int'l. ballroom dance champions
Carole Cook Broadway (42nd Street, Radio Gals) star
Tyne Daly Tony Award-winner (Gypsy) / TV (Judging Amy, Cagney & Lacy) star
MELINDA DOOLITTLE American Idol / recording star
Joely Fisher Broadway (Cabaret) / TV (‘Til Death, Ellen) / film star
Davis Gaines Broadway (Phantom of the Opera, Hello, Dolly!, Camelot) star
Maureen McVerry Cabaret star / actress
Shawn Ryan TV (America's Got Talent) / cabaret star
TOP SHELF Motown Madness - The Bay Area's salute to Motown
JEANIE TRACY Disco Diva / recording star
Wesla Whitfield Cabaret / recording star
John Lloyd Young Tony Award-winning Broadway (Jersey Boys) star

Honorary Co-Chairs: State Senator Mark Leno, SF Mayor Gavin Newsom, SF Treasurer Jose Cisneros. Producers: Joe Seiler & Ken Henderson. Director: David Galligan. Musical Directors: Michael Orland (American Idol, Celebrity Duets) and Bill Keck.

HELP IS ON THE WAY XIV 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 million dollars for AIDS services.

Underwriter level tickets range from $125 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.

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.

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.