January 20 will be a special night for lovers of musical theater and cabaret. The Richmond Ermet Aid Foundation, a non-profit which raises critical funds for people living with HIV and other chronic illnesses, will stage a very special musical evening at the Marines Memorial Theater.
Gracing the stage will be cast members from the Broadway touring company of "Some Like it Hot," along with local cabaret legends Jason Brock and Paula West.
In addition to the performances, there will be an auction during the show. According to Ken Henderson, REAF's executive director, the evening's beneficiaries will be Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and REAF's Small Emergency Grants program.
"Many of these Broadway touring casts don't know who REAF is, but they all know who Broadway Cares is so they are much more likely to say yes to participating in these benefits," Henderson wrote in an email to the Bay Area Reporter. "Broadway Cares' mission aligns very well with REAF's except they provide support nationwide.
"REAF's Small Emergency Grants program provides small grants to people facing short term crisis situations like shortfalls in the ability to pay rent or utilities or unexpected medical or dental bills. Often these small grants can be the difference of being able to stay housed or obtain much needed medical or dental care. These grants are restricted to people from our focus areas we support including HIV/AIDS services, hunger programs, and programs that support homeless youth or underserved seniors."
Singing assistance
Matt Loehr, who plays Joe in "Some Like it Hot," the role played by Tony Curtis in the classic 1959 film, feels that it's very important to continue to raise funds for HIV/AIDS service organizations, because the virus is still very much with us.
"To be blunt, it's not the death sentence that it was when I was first growing up, which is a blessing," Loehr said in an interview with the BAR. "But it is still quite serious, so awareness is paramount as well as continuing to raise funds for organizations that provide so many services to people living with HIV and AIDS who would otherwise not be able to afford those services. Medication, food and housing, to name a few."
Loehr added that he knows all too well how important Broadway Cares is to the Broadway community.
"I have friends who are HIV-positive who have received great help from Broadway Cares, certainly," Loehr said. "But I will say that I have been incredibly lucky in that I came of age when drugs like AZT were already saving and prolonging lives so I very fortunately did not watch anyone suffer early on when the virus first appeared and was wreaking devastating havoc.
"I have friends who did and have relayed those terribly sad stories and experiences to me. That's another reason why it's important to have benefits and raise money for organizations that play a huge part in fighting this virus. We cannot forget how many suffered and were lost, especially early on."
Loehr enjoys being part of benefits, which he feels are a fun way to give back to communities. And he's doing it through a medium he loves, song and dance. But he declined to reveal exactly what he'll be doing at the REAF benefit.
"I can't quite say because something I'm cooking up with a few people would best be served as a surprise," he said. "You have to be there."
Brock & roll
Brock also declined to say much about his REAF performance, though he did throw a little humor into his interview.
"As far as I know I'm just singing, something big," he told the BAR. "I offered to strip, but REAF said that would hurt sales."
Brock recently returned to the USA after a lengthy stay in Japan, where he got a bachelor's degree in political science and attended a Japanese language school. Eventually he found work as a teacher, while also singing and acting in movies, on TV and in video games, as well as performing concerts. But his stay in Japan wasn't fated to be permanent.
"I couldn't get my Visa renewed, and I thought it might be a good time to go back to America anyway," he said. "I wasn't getting the career growth in entertainment that I had been hoping for. Although I did do some pretty cool stuff looking back. One of my TV commercials is still running right now in Japan."
Brock's history with REAF goes back twenty years, and he appreciates the work they do and the way they do it. He also appreciates the support he's gotten from them over the years even before he was on TV. Like Loehr, he understands the importance of standing up for the community and helping others.
"I think it's important to raise money for AIDS related organizations because some people are still suffering from issues caused by AIDS," he said. "But I also think it's important that REAF has widened their mission to include other types of aid for our community."
The singer, well known for his powerful pipes, invites the public to come to the show and enjoy an evening of great music.
"I hope they'll leave happy and satisfied by the level and quality of entertainment they saw and heard," he said. "But it would be great if people leave feeling touched in some deep way with a new understanding of issues affecting our community. And if they happen to get touched in some other way, with consent, even better!"
'One Night Only' with the cast of 'Some Like It Hot, 'January 20, Marines Memorial Theater, 7:30pm, 609 Sutter St. $45-$100. www.reaf-sf.org
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