Coming Together for a Cause

Cast members from musicals across Las Vegas gather Sunday to help those with HIV/AIDS. In the 23rd annual "Ribbon of Life" show, more than 200 performers will sing and dance in productions they've choreographed themselves.

"And no one is paid for it," added Shannon Hardin, a "Jubilee!" dancer and the show's co-director.

This year's theme, Classic Las Vegas, divides the program into rock, retro and Motown segments. Highlights include "Jubilee!" cast members performing a tribute to Elvis, "Phantom -- The Las Vegas Spectacular" members interpreting Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," and "Jersey Boys" members crooning a medley of Smokey Robinson's "Cruisin'" and Al Green's "Let's Stay Together."

For the Latin standard "Besame Mucho," members of "Ka," "MGM Grand's Crazy Horse Paris" and "Love" will join legs and voices.

Among the other 20 represented shows are "O," "Le Reve," "Fantasy," "Human Nature -- The Ultimate Celebration of Motown" and "Voices." In addition, George Wallace will perform stand-up comedy.

Conspicuous by their absence are the newest kids on the faux-Broadway block, "The Lion King" and "Peepshow."

"When we started putting the show together, they were both way too busy with rehearsals," said Hardin, who says they plan to participate next year.

"Ribbon of Life" began in 1987, after a "Jubilee!" dancer died of AIDS after living, for lack of anywhere else to turn, in his brother's garage. Even though life-extending drug cocktails shifted the spotlight away from the disease in the mid-'90s, people are still dying.

"People think there's not a problem with it anymore," Hardin said. "But there are more and more cases on the rise -- especially among young people and women."

Hardin sits on the board of Golden Rainbow, the beneficiary of "Ribbon of Life," which finances the housing and medical care of HIV/AIDS patients in eight valley apartments and one house. Last year, the show helped raise $300,000 for the charity, most of which came from its accompanying silent auction.

"And we have more of a need for financial assistance this year because of the economy," Hardin said, "not less."

Contact reporter Corey Levitan at clevitan@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0456.