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McArdle is a “Jill-of-all-trades” on stage, ranging from Annie to Belle in Beauty


and Beast, to Eva Person in Evita. “It is hard to pick my favorite; I really enjoy the fiery character of Sally Bowles in Cabaret. I love Belle, I travelled and played her for two years. The Vagina Monologues are also great. Recently I playedMame and Dolly in Hello Dolly. I am really liking the roles for women over age 50.” Reflecting on her breakthrough role, McArdle says, “I had been working for a


while on things that were not so sensational like soap operas.Annie was an over- night sensation. When you are in the middle of it, you don’t notice how wild it is; it took me 10 years of looking back to realize.” Liberace and Carol Channing most directly mentored McArdle during her for- midable years. “I still speak to Carol all the time. I learned a lot from both of them: You have to get up and dig in—step by step—keep going and keep trying. You gotta keep doing it, use or lose it and be self-sufficient. Thespians do it all... That’s what keeps you strong!” What’s up next for McArdle? “I will be in Santa Monica performing in the Jerry


Mayer play2 Acrosswith the lovely Kip Gilman. Then, I go to my childhood home to be inducted into the Philadelphia Music Hall of Fame. I am getting a Star on Broad Street along with the late night band Roots and Billie Holiday. After that, I have concerts all across the country. I have a show with Maureen McGovern, Donna McKechnie and Faith Prince called,4 Girls 4.” McArdle’s thirty-minute concert at the Aston-Brooks Awards Gala is just one


ANDREA MCARDLE by lisa lipsey


You might know her best as the originalAnnie, or as the youngest person ever nominated for a Tony Award. Andrea McArdle, honed her craft by working with some of the legends of the entertainment industry such as Ethel Merman, Liza Minnelli, Julie Andrews, Liberace, Frank Sina- tra, Stephen Schwartz, Tim Rice and Elton John. The keenly musical McArdle is lending her voice to the upcoming San


Diego Human Dignity Foundation Aston-Brooks Awards Gala and is no stranger to helping our community. “I do so much work with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. I have been involved since its inception, charity concerts are important.”


14 RAGE monthly | NOVEMBER 2015 | NOVEMBER 2015


A GREAT CAUSE SAN DIEGO HUMAN DIGNITY FOUNDATION AND BROADWAY VETERAN


TUNING UP FOR


slice of the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation’s evening of adventure. Guests will also enjoy a hosted cocktail reception, silent auction, dinner, cabaret show and the awards ceremony. Most recently the San Diego Human Dignity Founda- tion announced their award winners: Kurt Cunningham (posthumously) and actor and activist Wilson Cruz. Cunningham is being honored with The Richard Geyser Community Leader-


ship Award. He was one of our own, a local community activist who dedicated much of his adult life toward the betterment of the San Diego LGBTQ and HIV communities. Throughout his career, he worked closely with Imperial Court de San Diego, Trevor Project and The Center. Nicole Murray-Ramirez will accept on behalf of Cunningham. Cruz will receive The Lincoln Aston Public Service Award. Early in his career,


he played “Rickie Vasquez” onMy So Called Life. Cruz also played the critically ac- claimed role of “Angel” on Broadway and in the West Coast Premiere of the musi- cal RENT. On the front lines of LGBT advocacy, Cruz recently served as national spokesperson for GLAAD and is currently on the FOX showRed Band Society. “The individuals we will honor embody the mission of the San Diego Human


Dignity Foundation,” said John L. Brown, executive director, SDHDF. “Their work and dedication to equality, tolerance, wellness, well-being and human dignity transcends the LGBTQ communities, striving to bridge understanding through- out San Diego and beyond. Each of the awards carries a $5,000 grant from the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation to the LGBT/HIV charity chosen by the award recipient or their designate. The charities selected will be announced at the gala.”


TheAston-Brooks Awards Gala takes place onSaturday, November 7 at The Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa, 1775 E. Mission Bay Drive. For tickets and more information go tosdhdf.org.


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