Produced By: Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Beneficiary: The Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative of The Actors’ Fund of America Place: The Marquis Theatre 1535 Broadway

Over 65 Broadway Dames, a dancing troupe of 14 young “damsels” and the irrepressible Cagelles came together for an audience of over 1,400 at the Marriott Marquis for the 10th Anniversary production of NOTHIN’ LIKE A DAME produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS to benefit The Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative (PNWHI) of The Actors’ Fund.

In an evening of highlights, standouts included Lillias White’s grand opening medley of “I Enjoy Being a Girl”, “Thank Heaven for Little Girls” and “There is Nothing Like a Dame”; a stellar Cy Coleman medley featuring Barbara Walsh, Jen Cody, Karen Ziemba, Randy Graff and Dee Hoty; a reprise of Zoe Caldwell’s performance of “Liaisons” from the recent Los Angeles production of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC; Lauren Flanigan’s heartfelt “Will There Really Be a Morning”; Bebe Neuwirth’s reprise of “Susan’s Dream” from here recent hit Off-Broadway (1) solo show of the music of Kurt Weil; Maureen McGovern’s show-stopper from LITTLE WOMEN, “Day’s of Plenty” (2) and Andrea McArdle’s “Everybody Says Don’t” (3). Special guests included Paige Davis (4), Phylicia Rashad (5) and many other fabulous Dames from Broadway.

Thanks to the evening’s generous sponsors – CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, The NEW YORK TIMES, ALTRIA GROUP, The House of HARRY WINSTON, NEWMAN’S OWN and JOHN’S PIZZERIA, many VIP donors and ticket buyers -a $300,000 check from Broadway Cares for The Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative of The Actors’ Fund was presented by Gary Beach (LA CAGE’s own ZaZa) to Phyllis Newman, Maria DiDia, Lynn Redgrave and Liz Smith at the end of the show (6). Since its first edition, BC/EFA’s NOTHIN’ LIKE A DAME has raised over $1.6 million for PNWHI.

A program of The Actors’ Fund since 1995, the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative was created with the help of an initial grant of $10,000 from BC/EFA to provide a specific safety net for women in the entertainment industry who are coping with critical health concerns, financial, psychological and family issues.

In 2004, 356 women in the entertainment industry received the case management and individual counseling necessary to help them access appropriate social services for a wide variety of health concerns, including cancer prevention and treatment, domestic violence, depression, eating disorders and substance abuse. Over $200,000 in emergency financial assistance was also provided.

For more information about The Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative, call The Actors’ Fund (212) 221-7300 or go to www.actorsfund.org

The Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative (PNWHI) was established in 1996 to provide a safety net for women in the entertainment industry who are coping with critical health concerns, or life-threatening illnesses. The Initiative offers a roster of services to help women access appropriate health care. Women face specific and difficult health challenges which can severely affect their ability to work and take care of their families. The role of the Women’s Health Initiative is also particularly important as members of our industry, who are already chronically under- and un-insured, find health insurance increasingly expensive and difficult to obtain.

Women’s Health Initiative social workers are effective at helping women deal with difficulties triggered by medical conditions and the subsequent challenges around financial, psychological, and family issues. For women who are coping with health issues such as cancer, eating disorders, lupus, diabetes, chemical dependency, multiple sclerosis, or AIDS, The Actors’ Fund’s intensive case management services and network of referrals help them get the care and support they need to reduce stress, focus on wellness, and optimize their health.