National touring cast of WICKED will contribute special Milwaukee performance to fight AIDS

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National touring cast of WICKED will contribute special Milwaukee performance to fight AIDS

17 July 2010

On Monday, August 2, the National Touring Company of ‘WICKED’ will host ‘Witches’ Night Off’, an evening of adult cabaret performances featuring cast and crew members of the company. Net proceeds of the event will benefit the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin.

The performance will be the cast’s gift to ARCW, which this year is marking its 25th anniversary in the fight against AIDS. ARCW is home to the ARCW Medical Center, Wisconsin’s largest provider of HIV medical, dental and mental health care.

Produced by the company members themselves, the show is an opportunity for them to step out of their ‘WICKED’ roles and perform in vignettes of music, dance and comedy. The performance will be held at the Nancy Kendall Theater on the campus of Cardinal Stritch University beginning at 7:00 p.m.

In addition, there will be live and silent auctions where guests can bid on autographed ‘WICKED’ memorabilia as well as opportunities to view ‘WICKED’ make-up artists turning Elphaba green prior to a performance. The cast will also offer the chance to be the qualifi ed highest bidder for a walk-on role in a ‘WICKED’ performance during the last week of its run at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts.

Tickets to ‘Witches’ Night Off’ are available online at arcw.org/witches. Standard tickets for the show are $25 and VIP Tickets, which will include a private reception with the cast following the show, are being sold for $50.

‘Witches’ Night Off ‘is suitable for mature audiences and is part of an ongoing effort by the cast members of ‘WICKED’ to support charitable causes that advance ‘WICKED’s’ theme of acceptance and illuminate the musical’s message that people should not be judged on first impressions. In its five years on the road, the casts and crews of ‘WICKED’ have raised more than $1 million in donations for Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS, which has provided fi nancial support to the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin since 1996.

“It is so thoughtful of these cast members to donate their time and talents to the fight against AIDS on an evening that would normally give them a much-deserved break,” said Dan Mueller, Chief Development Officer of the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin. “Their efforts along with the generous participation of all those attending will help people with HIV get the care they need to live longer, healthier lives. ‘Witches’ Night Off’ will be a fantastic anniversary gift to the patients of ARCW. Buy your tickets now!”

Cardinal Stritch University is located at 6801 North Yates Road, Milwaukee. Ample free parking is available and directions to campus can be found at www.Stritch.edu/maps.