Over the weekend, I went to my sixth "Help is On the Way" at the Marines' Memorial
Theatre. This is always a must see event during the holidays. The sparkling revue is
presented by the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation whose mission is to raise funds which are
then distributed to a variety of AIDS service organizations. Maitri-Compassionate Care
and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS are the beneficiaries of the December 8th show.
This year, the holiday show featured the cast of the touring company of Kinky
Boots, now playing at the Orpheum Theatre. Also, there were guest stars LaToya
London, Jason Brock, Davis Gaines, Jai Rodriguez, and Shawn Ryan to entertain the sold
out audience. Jai Rodriquez and cast member drag artist J. Harrison Ghee were co-emcees.
The ritzy show opened with a bang as cast member Ross Lekites rocked the house with
Donnie Hathaway's "This Christmas" followed by Tommy Martinez sensually singing Joan
Javits and Philip Springer's "Santa Baby." Patty Lohr sung Bob Wells and Mel
Tormé's "The Christmas Song" beautifully with a lot of passion. Anne Tolpegin
followed comically singing Tommie Connor's "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." Crystal
Kellogg did a soulful arrangement of Randy Newman's "Feels Like Home."
Co-Emcees J. Harrison Ghee and Jai Rodriguez did a bang up version of Frank Loesser's
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" followed by a sublime arrangement of Hugh Martin and Ralph
Blane's "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Guest star Shawn Ryan got the audience
in a laughing mood by singing the clever "The Egg Nog Song" by Carner & Gregor which
implies that someone put acid into the Christmas egg nog. Grace Stockdale was euphonious
singing Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff "All I Want for Christmas is You". Guest star
Jason Brock wowed the audience with his mellifluous voice singing Harold Arlen and Yip
Harburg's "Over the Rainbow." Judy Garland would have been proud hearing his electrifying
voice. This ended the first act.
During intermission Liam Mayclem and Andrew Freeman raised money for the AIDS foundation.
A "Kinky Boot" package, which included a walk-on role in the show and special costume
fitting went for $1600 and two persons are going to pay $1600 each for that privilege. A
"Six Night African Safari" went for $5000 and an eleven day Alaskan Cruise went for
$4500. The two auctioneers raised an additional $15,000 for the foundation.
The second act started on a wonderful high note with the cast of the new musical The
MeshugaNutcracker! now playing at the Marines' Memorial took center stage. They
certainly were a most energetic group celebrating Hanukkah, singing and dancing. Darius
Harper followed shyly singing Albert Hague and Eugene Poddany's "Grinch." Guest artists
LaToya London and Jason Brock took center splendidly to sing John Farrar's "You're the
One That I Want" from Grease. Hunk Mike Longo came onto the stage to belt out
Douglas Lyons and Ethan Pakchar's "Inside" and Lauren Chapman was riotous singing Randy
Brooks' "Grandma Go Run Over By a Reindeer".
Blair Goldberg with his melodious voice sang David Foster's "My Grownup Christmas List"
while Amelia Cormack with her dynamo vocal cords sang Jason Robert Brown's "Surabaya
Santa." Bonnie Milligan was touching singing Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing". Guest
star Davis Gaines with his commanding voice rang out Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion's song
from Man of La Mancha, "The Impossible Dream." LaToya London ended the revue with
a heartfelt rendition of Franz Xaver Gruber and Joseph Mohr's "Silent Night." The whole
cast came on stage to sing Irving Berlin's "White Christmas."
Many members of the audience, including the cast of Kinky Boots and myself, went
to the Hotel Adagio afterward where there was a dazzling array of desserts, including egg
nog without the acid.
Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation's next event will be "One Night Only Cabaret" with the
cast of Newsies set for Monday, March 2nd, 2015, at the Marines' Memorial Theatre.
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