Bevy of Entertainers on Tap for San Diego AIDS Benefit

You’d think the state of the economy would have San Diego’s arts organizations at each other’s throats. But, instead of scrambling for support for themselves, several have lately come together to support others. The result is “Together Again . . . For the First Time,” a one-night spectacle, an unprecedented multi-part performance by local arts groups slated for Monday at the Civic Theatre. The show is designed to raise money for San Diego AIDS organizations.

The umbrella organization for the event is a new group called Creative Response of the Arts, a nonprofit arts and cultural organization founded by local performing arts professionals concerned about AIDS.

One of the founders, Will Roberson, a hyper-animated free-lance director known in San Diego for his work on “Suds” and “The Heidi Chronicles,” has the huge task of directing the long and varied lineup of acts for “Together Again.” He’ll have to give momentum and dramatic shape to an evening of Fats Waller riffs and operatic arias, of ballet, flamenco, and modern dance, of comedy routines, juggling acts, Broadway tunes, gospel songs, and more.

Performers include the original foursome from the hit play “Forever Plaid,” who will sing four-part oldies along the amusing lines of “Three Coins in a Fountain” and “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing.” Tony award-winning Broadway actress Randy Graff will be joined by other cast members of the Old Globe musical comedy production “A My Name Is Still Alice.” Concert and jazz pianist Cecil Lytle will play Scott Joplin and Fats Waller tunes. Malashock Dance and Company will perform an excerpt from John Malashock’s modern dance “Where the Arrow Landed.”

The Flying Karamazov Brothers, a juggling team loved for their schticks and antics, may be playing off the first-act set from San Diego opera’s current production of Bizet’s “Carmen,” which will stand on the Civic Theater stage for “Together Again.” Internationally known mezzo-soprano Adria Firestone, currently in the lead role, will sing the famous “Seguidilla.”

Also on the roster are the Diversionary Theater company, comedian Rene Sandoval, vocalist Karen Morrow, who recently was heard on the Garrison Keillor show, the Solera Flamenco Dance Company, California Ballet’s ballerina Denise Dabrowski, Las Voces, an a cappella ensemble that sings Latin American music, the UCSD Gospel Choir, San Diego Finest City Freedom Band, the San Diego Men’s Chorus, and, perhaps, a phantom from Los Angeles--that phantom was unconfirmed at press time, but performing arts consultant Harris Goldman, who is also on the Creative Response board of directors with Roberson, said the show would probably include surprise celebrity guests.

“We could have scheduled a whole show with all the people who contacted us to perform after we had recruited all these artists,” Goldman said. But the goal was to highlight San Diego’s performing arts diversity: “We’re trying to say with this show that all of our community has been affected by AIDS, and as an arts community we wanted to give full representation back, to give, to fight AIDS.

The result will not be somber, however: “We decided from the beginning that we wanted the evening to be about entertainment, fun, not with a lot of weighty announcements or meaningful personal statements.”

“It reminds me of a parade,” Roberson laughed. “You get your big floats and marching bands, you get your equestrian units, and then you see how it all goes out.”

“Harris and I have gone to rehearsals or met with the artists or watched videotapes of all the acts to have some idea of what order to place them in, and to construct an evening that is fluid, with no stops, and that makes sense. With something like this there are always changes at the last minute, so you plan and prepare and stay flexible--after that you just have to wing it. We’re not pretending this is going to be as slick as the Oscars.”

Roberson knows there will be flubs and mistakes in the course of the two-hour show, which cannot be rehearsed as a whole. But he’s nonplussed. Working with professionals at every level has its advantages.

He and Greg Hirsch will have to design the show’s lighting by guesswork the night before, he explained. Hirsch, who is Director of Production for San Diego Opera, is more than experienced, however. Among other credits, he recently completed the lighting design for the just-opened Broadway revival of “Man of La Mancha” starring Raul Julia.

“I’m comforted by dealing with people who are very very good,” Roberson said. “Performers at a level of the Karamazov Brothers, even though I have no idea what they might do--people with major talent and major heart--they’re going to come through.”

Creative Response board member Charlene Baldridge, who is national media director at the Old Globe Theater, said “I don’t know of any concerted effort like this, at least at this level of management, that’s been done before. The various arts organizations are giving us time to do this volunteer effort. We are all in this together.

“Artistic directors are used to working together on various projects, but those of us who are not directors have, through this project, had the opportunity to work and grow together.”

Everyone performing has agreed to do so without compensation. Ushers, stage crews, technicians, printers, and others involved have volunteered with support from their organizations, such as the San Diego Opera and the Musician’s Union, for example.

The San Diego Symphony administration has supported Ted Robert’s efforts, according to Roberts, who is the symphony’s development officer. He and Alan Ziter, executive director of the Theatre League were also “ringleaders” in getting Creative Response going.

Ziter said he had been concerned for some time that there should be a greater effort to inform the community about AIDS, but saw the years slipping by with nothing happening.

“One day, I was speaking with Ethel Baer, who had moved here from New York to work for Starlight. She was actively involved in “Broadway Cares” (an AIDS benefit performance). I also spoke with Ted Roberts at the symphony. Finally we had three arts organizations thinking the same thing. A community benefit, a show, was our first idea.”

Some of the group met for breakfast at the Big Kitchen to brainstorm. For a show title, they came up with “Together Again . . . For the First Time” which has meaning to artists who encounter each other all over the country in productions, but not on their home stages.

Roberson, Ziter, Baldridge, and Goldman all expressed a sense of dedication from the board part to make “Together Again” the first of similar events to raise money and awareness about AIDS and other social issues. Also, there’s pride in how the arts community has banded for the event.

“The level of cooperation and camaraderie is extremely high. The people involved are a fun group, close-knit, and really driven. If there’s a problem, they take care of it,” Roberts commented.

* Tickets for the one-night only performance May 4 are $15, $25 and $35, with special $50 Gold Circle tickets that include orchestra center seating and post-performance party with the artists. On sale at the Civic Theater Box Office and the TIMES ARTS TIX booth at Horton Plaza, or by phone charge at 236-6510 or TicketMaster 278-TIXS.