FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Carlos Castro
310-213-8727
August 17, 2009 press@thegoldengays.com
sunnie@thelifegroupla.org

Charitable Partnership With HIV Support Organization Holds Special Meaning for Producer of the Golden Gays And Marla Gibbs (Florence from the Jeffersons) Signs On For Cameo Voiceover

"Initially, I had only planned on giving proceeds raised from full priced tickets to the LifeGroup as producing small Theatre by myself is a losing proposition (financially). Recently I returned to the group with my partner (newly diagnosed) for a portion of the POZ Life Weekend Seminar and was reminded how important the work the group does is to those affected by HIV. I left the POZ weekend seminar feeling like I had to do more."

So Trapper decided to give $1.00 from every ticket sold off the official show website to the Lifegroup and hopes that his zany show will bring more attention to the cause.

Of course, Trapper should know the importance of this group. After being diagnosed with AIDS in January 2008 with t-cells quickly plunging Trapper combed the internet looking for resources to deal with his newly appointed status. Of course there were tons of them, but none really had such a human face. "The idea of spending the weekend with a room full of people who were on the same roller coaster ride as me was very appealing. From the moment I received a call from the Executive Director Sunnie Rose Berger to the tears shed at the closing circle, I felt humanity as never before. What's more is that the disease now had no power over me, I was now in control." When pressed about how the weekend accomplishes that Trapper said, "it's the perfect combination of intellectual information, diverse participants, emotional thought, and unconditional love shared between attendees and tens of volunteers. This group taught me more compassion for others and less feeling sorry for myself".

The LifeGroupLA like many charities is suffering from the recession. Although the organization receives no Government funding, it now must compete with other charities that have suffered cuts. "I know what I'll bring in for the cause is miniscule compared to what is needed since the Cavern Club Theatre has only 50 seats and it's only a three week run. But I figure if other people learn about the group, maybe they'll make their own donations."

For those who want to help the cause and get a show all in one shot, The Golden gays opens September 10th at the Cavern Club Theatre in Silver Lake. The show features four men and their crackpot therapist all living life in drag as their favorite sitcom characters. In addition to seeing these men in similar predicaments to the original "girls", they'll stop and educate you with some Golden Girls trivia through songs like "Brush Up Your GG". As this release was being written, Marla Gibbs agreed to do a voiceover cameo for the show as her original character "Florence" from the Jeffersons.

Tickets range from $15.00-$30.00 and can be reserved directly via www.thegoldengays.com. (Don't forget the "the" as otherwise you'll get a porn site) The Cavern Club is located at 1920 Hyperion Avenue in Silver Lake 90027. The Theatre is adjacent to gay-friendly hot spot Casita del Campo, a Mexican Restaurant and Bar, featuring some of the best Margarita's to be found this side of the border.

Widestance Productions is founded by John Trapper and has had various incarnations in Philadelphia and Boston. The company is a vehicle for Trapper to write and see what happens when talented directors and actors take over. Normally Trapper tends towards what he perceives to be more meaningful work, while this show has none. "I have written and rewritten this script a couple times a year for the past twelve years. It's really just an excuse to put four men in dresses and make them say funny things in the spirit of the most amazing sitcom ever. If there does turn out to be a message, it certainly isn't intentional!" The show is Directed by Minnesotan Lori J. Ness Quinn with Musical Direction by Robert Decker.

(Photos of Cast in Costume available on Website, press may enter password protected gallery with the password "press")

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