Released on = August 3, 2007, 8:56 am

Press Release Author = Sheryl Mandel

Industry = Entertainment

Press Release Summary = A one night only special AIDS benefit performance of Tim
Rice\' CHESS THE MUSICAL will star Broadway celebrities Susan Egan, Kevin Earley,
Cindy Robinson, Thomas Griffith, Eric Kunze, Tom Schmid, & Matthew Morrison.
Expected to sell-out!!! Reserve tickets NOW!!!

Press Release Body = Broadway Babes & Hunks Hit Hollywood Ford Amphitheatre For AIDS
Benefit!!!

A one night only benefit performance of Tim Rice, (Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast,
Evita, Jesus Christ Super Star) Benny Andersson,(ABBA) and Bjorn
Ulvaeus\',(ABBA)CHESS The Musical.

Produced and directed by Brian Michael Purcell, (National Touring Company Jesus
Christ Superstar, concert producer: Evening w/ Sondheim & Webber benefiting BCEFA)
is slated for the 1240 outdoor seater, The Ford Amphitheatre located at 2580
Cahuenga Blvd. East, Los Angeles, CA 90068 on September 17th, 2007 at 8:00PM, will
raise funds, in which part of the proceeds will be donated to

**BROADWAY CARES EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS**

This special event will star Tony-nominee Susan Egan, (Beauty and the Beast,
Cabaret, Triumph of Love), Kevin Earley. (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Les Miserables),
Cindy Robinson (Into The Woods, Carousel, Peter Pan), Thomas Griffith (The Best
Little Whorehouse Texas, 1776 at Hollywood Bowl), Eric Kunze,(Jesus Christ Super
Star Nat\'l tour, Miss Saigon), Tom Schmid, (Annie Get Your Gun, The Last Empress)
and Matthew Morrison , (The Light in the Piazza, Hairspray tour, 10 Million Miles)
with Musical direction by Dan Redfeld (Little Women) and Emmy Award winning
choreographer A.C. Ciulla (Footloose, Tony nomination), including the sounds of by
a full 25 piece orchestra.

From the composers of the smash hit Mamma Mia, this highly acclaimed musical
transforms the fiercely competitive globe-trotting world of Grand Champion Chess
into a supercharged mix of romantic rivalries and political intrigue. Based on an
East meets West love triangle, the players, lovers, politicians and spies make their
moves to the pulse of a monumental and diverse score, including the international
hits \"One Night in Bangkok,\" \"Anthem,\" and \"I Know Him So Well.\"

This multimedia benefit production of Chess at The Ford Amphitheatre on September,
17th at 8:00PM will be presented in honor of producer/director/choreographer Jim
Alexander, who sadly died on May 25th, 2007 of heart failure. Jim had conceived the
idea for this special benefit event.

Jim was the former Producing Artistic Director of Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma. He
received numerous awards and critical acclaim for his productions of West Side
Story, Song and Dance, The Pirates of Penzance, A Chorus Line, Evita, Godspell, The
World Goes 'Round, Man of La Mancha, An Inspector Calls, Always...Patsy Cline, Peter
Pan, A Midsummer Night\'s Dream, Die Fledermaus, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on The Roof
and Jesus Christ Superstar. He had most recently directed Song and Dance: Tell Me
on a Sunday, starring his wife, Cindy Robinson, which opened on February 24th, 2007
in The Deaf West Theatre in North Hollywood. He was also the Founder and CEO of The
Quest Theatre Company. Please visit www.theatrequest.org.

Producer Brian Michael Purcell wrote: \"After the show that night(Song and Dance) we
all went out for dinner and Jim and I started talking about the theatre business. It
was like I was talking with another me. In the midst of our conversation Jim brings
up that the next show he wanted to produce which was Chess. Originally, Jim had
talked to me about playing Freddie opposite Cindy in the production and I was very
much interested. I also told him that I have a production company and why don't we
co-produce. He became very interested.

We came to an agreement about ideas for the cast, the look and concept of the show,
etc. For the next month we had numerous lunch and phone meetings, we even looked at
the Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood and fell in love with space and put a hold on it.
Everything was going smoothly and the collaboration was on. I felt like we had been
working with each other for years....(On the morning I learned that) Jim Alexander
had suffered a fatal heart attack, I was speechless and cried for hours. I had not
only lost a partner and mentor but a close friend. I could not even imagine how
Cindy was feeling. But out of the darkest moments must come the light. I drove to
the Ford that morning and put down the deposit for the show. I pulled myself as an
actor out of the show and now I was in Jim's shoes as Director and Producer. This is
what Jim wanted and what he lived for. So there was no way I was not going to put
this show on. It had meaning before being a fundraiser for BC/EFA, Broadway
Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, but now it has even more meaning and heart! We are doing
this in the memory of Jim Alexander husband, father, friend, producer, director and
mentor to everyone he met.\"

Update: Dancers are being sought for CHESS. Hollywood casting director Pixie Monroe
(www.monroecasting.com),Stephen Speilberg\'s \"Minority Report,\" \"Cries From Ramah\"
which has Oscar qualified) is also the executive producer and co-host of another
charitable project - a celebrity podcast show with radio personality co-host Gary
Spears (KBIG-FM 104.3)benefiting St. Jude Children\'s Research Hospital entitled
\"CastingHopeTM\"
(www.castinghope.net). Ms. Monroe has graciously come onboard as casting director
for this special CHESS production. She will be casting the ensemble dancers/singers
for this special benefit event and told her New York publicist: \"I\'m so excited to
have been called in on this incredible project. The people involved are truly
remarkable and watching this production emerge only inspires one to want to give
more. I have been up several nights looking through the dance submissions on the
breakdowns and can tell you that the \"cream of the crop\" from the dance industry are
wanting to be apart of this exciting \"Chess\" production. I want to cast them all!\"
Auditions are on July 28th. The final decisions will be made by producer Brian
Michael Purcell and choreographer A.C. Ciulla. **Updates will be announced**

Tickets for CHESS on sale NOW at:
www.fordtheatres.org

Box Office Tel: 323-461-3673

Ticket prices from $35-$200

*Afterparty \"Meet The Cast\" for VIP guests will be held at The Ford Amphitheatre*

Broadway Cares/ Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) (www.broadwaycares.org) is the nation\'s leading
industry-based, not-for-profit AIDS fundraising and grant making organization.
BC/EFA is the ongoing, committed response from the American Theatre community to an
urgent worldwide health crisis. By drawing upon the talents, resources, and
generosity of this community, BC/EFA raises funds for AIDS-related causes across the
United States for critically needed services for people with AIDS, HIV or
HIV-related illnesses.

Please Join Us.

In Loving Memory of Jim Alexander...

###

For Media & Interview Inquiries:
Please contact:
Sheryl Mandel
ssshekkie@aol.com
Tel:718-352-5976

For Sponsorship & Theaterbill Ad Inquiries:
Please contact:
Brian Purcell
brian.m.purcell@verizon.net
Tel:646-641-6669














Web Site = http://www.fordtheatre.org

Contact Details = For Media & Interview Inquiries:
Please contact:
Sheryl Mandel
ssshekkie@aol.com
Tel:718-352-5976

For Sponsorship & Theaterbill Ad Inquiries:
Please contact:
Brian Purcell
brian.m.purcell@verizon.net
Tel:646-641-6669