By Side By Side By Side By Side by Stephen Sondheim

The 23rd Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.), the longest continuously running AIDS benefit in the world, will celebrate the work of renowned composer Stephen Sondheim with a show entitled By Side By Side By Side By Side by Stephen Sondheim. David Galligan, S.T.A.G.E. veteran and winner of LA Stage Alliance’s 2005 Ovation Award for Career Achievement, will once again direct the program with musical direction from Gerald Sternbach.

S.T.A.G.E. brings together some of the biggest stars in theatre, television and cabaret to celebrate the music of legendary Broadway composers. The program
will feature selections from the repertoire of the one of the most prolific songwriters in theatre history. Stephen Sondheim is the winner of eight Tony Awards for musicals such as A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Passion and Into the Woods as well as a Pulitzer Prize for Sunday In the Park with George. In addition, he is also known for Merrily We Roll Along, Frogs, Bounce, Pacific Overtures and the lyrics for Do I Hear A Waltz? Gypsy, and West Side Story.

The cast will include two of the singing Cassidys — brothers Shaun, the former teen star turned television producer who rarely performs any longer, as well as Patrick. Broadway’s Len Cariou, Wilson Cruz, Tyne Daly, Nancy Dussault, Sally Ann Howes, Alice Ripley and event chair Betty Garrett are among those slated to appear on this year’s show. Also scheduled to perform are Jamie Anderson, Ann Hampton Callaway, Carole Cook, Kevin Earley, Randy Graff, Ronobir Lahiri, Sean McDermott, Linda Michele, Michele Nicastro, Michael Nouri, Valarie Pettiford, Charlotte Rae, Cathy Rigby, Joan Ryan, Andrew Samonsky, Kevin Spirtas, KT Sullivan, Rip Taylor and Lisa Vroman. Marc Cherry, creator and executive producer of ABC’s hit series Desperate Housewives, also performs.