The Annual Thinking Woman’s Vaudeville
to benefit the
PHYLLIS NEWMAN WOMEN’S HEALTH INITIATIVE of
THE ACTORS’ FUND OF AMERICA

Produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS

Directed by Kathleen Marshall

Monday, March 18, 2002
8:00pm
St. James Theatre
246 West 44th Street
New York City

Angels
Judith Ann Abrams    Maria Di Dia    Dasha A. Epstein
Jane Harmon    Nina Kenneally    Norma Langworthy
Harriet Leve    Jessica Levy    Elizabeth I. McAnn
Chase Mishkin    Annette Niemtzow
Isobel Robins    Daryl Roth
“The Producers”

Appearing*
POLLY BERGEN    SANDY DUNCAN
HANNAH LEAH DUNN    SUSIE ESSMAN
AMANDA GREEN    JULIE HALSTON
JOAN HAMBURG    HEATHER HEADLEY
JENNIFER HOLLIDAY    MICHELA MARINO LERMAN
MICHELE LEE    RUE McCLANAHAN
AUDRA McDONALD    DEBRA MONK
BEBE NEUWIRTH    PHYLLIS NEWMAN
CYNTHIA NIXON    BERNADETTE PETERS
THE WOMEN OF “ONE MO’ TIME”
THE RADIO CITY ROCKETTES
ANN REINKING    CHITA RIVERA
KATHLEEN TURNER    LILLIAS WHITEwith special guest stars
JAMES NAUGHTON and TONY RANDALL

The 7th Annual NOTHING LIKE A DAME – presented at the St. James Theatre on March 13th by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS – was a huge success, raising over $270,000 for The Actors’ Fund’s Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative.

Billed as “the thinking woman’s vaudeville”, from its opening number, featuring Chita Rivera and a chorus of 25 similarly-attired “Anitas” in “America” (#1) through to Bernadette Peters closing the show with “There is Nothing Like A Dame”, the evening gathered many of Broadway’s best to celebrate women who have struggled to overcome illness and loss.

Highlights included: Chicago star Bebe Neuwirth and Ann Reinking dancing Bob Fosse’s “Cool Hand Luke”; Debra Monk’s reading of “The Stepmother” by Charles Busch; Roz Ryan belting “The Keyhole” from ONE MO’ TIME; Sandy Duncan (#2) doing “Ten Cents a Dance” with Don Correia and Guy Stroman; and Michelle Lee stopping the show with a recreation of her Tony nominated performance as Gittel Mosca’s singing “I’m Way Ahead” from Cy Coleman’s SEESAW…in addition to many, many more wonderful numbers.

Three of the 569 women who received counseling, support and services through the Women’s Health Initiative spoke of the experiences. Maria Davis (#3 pictured with Julie Halston) an HIV/AIDS patient transformed form a 96 pound invalid into a 140 pound business women through the efforts of The Actors’ Fund. Two other actress, Cindy Thrall (HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH) and Nicole Bradin (TICK, TICK..BOOM) were also aided around serious back surgery and breast cancer issues.

Since 1996, the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative has disbursed over $1.75 million in financial assistance to women in need. The group also sponsors health fairs and runs support groups. For further information: call The Actors’ Fund at (212) 221-7300.

EQUITY NEWS – April 2002