Bay Area Reporter
The show must go on!
On the Town
Published 07/22/2010
by Donna Sachet

Last Monday’s Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation’s cabaret show featured the touring casts of Wicked and Young Frankenstein, joined by Hollywood funnyman Bruce Vilanch and sensational vocalist Sharon McNight, in the home of Beach Blanket Babylon, Club Fugazi.

These one-night-only events are a rare opportunity to hear these Broadway voices singing music of their own choosing, not from their touring hit shows, while raising needed funds for AIDS-related service organizations. The participants deserve kudos for giving up their one night off to participate in a show of this kind. In addition to some remarkable singing, we were treated to several moving dance numbers and lots of humor along the way.

Juanita Ramirez ‘s psychic reading had the crowd in stitches, especially when she struggled to see the future of REAF’s own Gary Thackeray. Vilanch proved the perfect emcee, often seeming to shock the audience with his no-holds-barred comedy and celebrity skewering.

The highlight of the evening, however, was McNight as she compressed the first half-hour of The Wizard of Oz into a side-splitting 7-minute musical medley, complete with startling character impersonations. Seen in the audience and at the reception afterwards were Larry Horowitz, Don Berger , Richard Sablatura , Beth Schnitzer , Patrik Gallineaux , Sister Dana, and Lawrence Helman.

The post Club Fugazi: “Vilanch proved the perfect emcee…” first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

San Francisco’s Club Fugazi, which hosts Beach Blanket Babylon, has an exciting event tonight, Monday night only at 7:30 PM featuring Young Frankenstein and Wicked cast members!

It is the Richmond Ermet AIDS Foundation (REAF) presentation of “Wicked fun with Young Frankenstein.”

REAF’s “One Night Only” benefit cabaret series are always great fun featuring cast members from hit Broadway shows in original cabaret performances in intimate theaters. Each show takes on it’s own character based on the the make up of the touring cast for each show.

The cast of “Wicked” has participated in three of REAF’s “One Night Only” benefit cabarets over the past year and they always put together fun and exciting numbers for these benefits.

Add cast members from the hit show, “Young Frankenstein,” which is opening this week at the Golden Gate Theatre, plus special guest MC, comic Bruce Vilanch, and you’ve got a recipe for a wild and crazy evening of theatre.

Tickets start at $25 and are available by calling the Beach Blanket Babylon Box Office – 78 Green Street, San Francisco, CA 91433 – at 415-421-4222. Click here for more information.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/abraham/detail??blogid=95&entry_id=67635#ixzz0tSYxvODN

The post San Francisco Tonight: Bruce Vilanch, Young Frankenstein and Wicked cast at Club Fugazi, 7:30 PM first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation will present a special One Night Only Cabaret July 12 at Club Fugazi in San Francisco.

The 7:30 PM concert will feature cast members from the national tours of Young Frankenstein and Wicked, who will offer song selections of their own choice to present “an evening of upbeat, high-energy music, dance and comedy.” Bruce Vilanch, who made his Broadway debut in Hairspray, will be the evening’s special guest.

Proceeds will benefit The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Club Fugazi is located at 678 Green St. in San Francisco. For tickets, priced $25-$100, call (415) 421-4222. A limited number of tickets are also available for the dessert party with the cast following the show for an additional $20/person.

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Young Frankenstein will play the Golden Gate Theatre June 30-July 25. Wicked is currently playing the Orpheum Theatre through Sept. 5.

The post One Night Only Cabaret to Feature Bruce Vilanch and Frankenstein and Wicked Casts first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

Bruce Vilanch will be a special guest at a one night only cabaret to benefit the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, to be held at Club Fugazi, on Monday, July 12 at 7:30pm.

Cast members from the touring casts of Young Frankenstein and Wicked will perform at the event, offering personal favorites. In addition the evening will feature comedy and dance material.

Tickets for this “One Night Only Cabaret” range from $25 to $100.

Tickets are available by phone by calling 415-421- 4222.

The post Bruce Vilanch to Join Wicked, Young Frankenstein Casts for AIDS Benefit in San Francisco first appeared on We Got Bruce!.