Tonight at 7:30 PM: ‘A Labor of Love’ Silver Anniversary Cabaret at Howard Community College by Carolyn Kelemen

TONIGHT at 7:30 PM at Howard Community College’s Smith Theatre A Labor of Love’s A Silver Anniversary Cabaret will star local and Broadway stars who are there to raise money for the Emergency Fund of AIDS Alliance of Howard County.

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In times of crisis, art can stimulate change, educate people and, at the very least, deal with personal grief. Once again, dozens of performing artists will gather at the Howard Community College Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center on Monday, Dec. 2nd to deal with the AIDS crisis in the way that they know best:  singing and dancing.

Carole Graham Lehan
Carole Graham Lehan

Past A Labor of Love benefits have been held on Labor Day with the exception of the very first show at Slayton House, a concert performance of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Jim Rouse Theatre, Follies at Toby’s Dinner Theater, and our fabulous “Cabaret” at HCC a few years ago. This 25th anniversary of the fund-raiser for the Howard County AIDS Alliance Emergency Fund will showcase a large roster of singers, dancers, and TV/movie celebrities in A Silver Anniversary Cabaret, directed by Carole Graham Lehan, with artistic support from Toby Orenstein (a dynamic force since the inception in 1988) and Jenny Male, coordinator of musical theater at HCC. With its theme “A Homecoming,” artists who grew up in Howard County will travel from Broadway, California, and throughout the East Coast.

Toby Orenstein.
Toby Orenstein.

“We’re talking about people in the arts giving of themselves,” explains Toby Orenstein, Founding Director of Toby’s Dinner Theatre, the Columbia Center for Theater Arts, and The Young Columbians – all part of this year’s celebration.As in past years, all the money raised will support an Emergency AIDS Fund, by the Howard County Health Alliance. Some of the money will be given to Howard County Healthy Families fund that helps individuals living with AIDS/HIV, or those at risk, meet their daily needs.

Look for information on all these Broadway gypsies and more at LaborOfLoveSilver.wordpress.com.

Tickets are $25 for show at 7:30 p.m. and a $50 for a pre-show reception, and concert.

Tickets available at ALaborOfLove.eventbrite.com.

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From A Labor of Love’ cabaret celebrates 25th anniversary

HIV/AIDS benefit set for Dec. 2 in Columbia

November 25, 2013 by Julia Reed of The Baltimore Sun

Carolyn Kelemen.
Carolyn Kelemen.

A Labor of Love founded in 1988 by DCMetroTheaterArts’ writer Carolyn Kelemen, was created to address the HIV/AIDS crisis during a time when the theater community was losing many performers to it. “That isn’t true today — the situation has changed in the past 25 years,” Kelemen says in regard to advances in medicine and HIV/AIDS treatment. A more joyous event this time around, the December 2nd performance will serve as a homecoming for many of the original performers and celebrate better times for patients.

6 COMMENTS

  1. From DCMTA’s John Harding:
    “Just spent a wonderful evening at the locally mounted AIDS benefit concert, “A Labor of Love.” This was the 25th anniversary of the first such benefit, and it was like a passing of the torch seeing a whole new crop of Young Columbians sing a medley of modern show tunes. Some of the original Young Columbians came down from their Broadway digs and from as far away as Hollywood to perform at the gala.

    Wonderful Robin Baxter flew in especially to perform a very atypical Joni Mitchell cover, and Betsy True presented two separate originals from her new CD. Ric Ryder sang a poem newly set to music, and Alan Wiggins reprised a song he actually introduced in New York.

    Everywhere one looked was a pile of talent. Carole Lehan sang in a couple of show-stopping spots, and Delores King Williams brought a taste of supper club panache to the Smith Theatre stage.

    At the close, Ray Hatch and Larry Friedman performed a punch and counter-punch pair of grand finales. All of it flowed smoothly, thanks to the direction of Carole Lehan and the keyboard wizardry of the amazing Patty Hammer.

    It all ended with an impromptu group hug for founding producer Carolyn Kelemen. No labor about it; this was love all the way.”

  2. I was also there and the amount of love in that room was infectious. Congrats and thanks to DCMTA’s own Carolyn Kelemen for 25 years of producing this benefit and to everyone who performed last night.

  3. What a privilege to share the stage and backstage with people who deemed it valuable to give a portion of themselves. Thanks to Vickie Johnson for her cheerful, leadership in this HCC production and Patty Hammer for her stunningly reliable artistry. I love this community of talents. Well done, friends.

  4. Though I couldn’t attend this event, I’m so proud of Carolyn Kelemen and other community leaders who elevate the issue of AIDS/HIV in the community and rally to support those in need. Kudos to everyone for spreading the LOVE!

  5. I am a first timer performing in the event it ranks high on my list of favorites events. So much fun to see and perform with old friends in front of the warm and giving audience.

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