Source: TheaterMania
Date: November 29, 2006
Byline: Brian Scott Lipton

Michael Rupert to Replace Harvey Fierstein in Rags Concert

Michael Rupert will play the role of Avram n the World AIDS Day benefit concert presentation of the musical Rags, to be held at the Nokia Theater in Times Square on Monday, December 11, beginning at 7pm. He replaces Harvey Fierstein, who had to withdraw due to a sudden schedule conflict.

Stafford Arima and Mark Hartman will serve as director and musical director for the show. MTV correspondent Sway will host the event. The concert will also feature Carolee Carmello, Gregg Edelman, Lainie Kazan, Eden Espinosa, Lewis Cleale, John Treacy Egan, David A. Austin, Struan Erlenborn, Max von Essen, Stacia Fernandez, Aaron Berk, David Josefberg, Colin Hanlon, Adam Heller, Peter Lockyer, Stuart Marland, John Schiappa, Lisa Jolley, and Anne L. Nathan.

The production team includes Patricia Wilcox (choreographer), Traci Klainer (lighting), Walter Trarbach and Tony Smolenski (sound), David Korins (sets), and Michael Bottari and Ronald Case (costumes).

Rags has music by Tony Award winner Charles Strouse, lyrics by Academy Award and Grammy Award winner Stephen Schwartz, and a book by Tony winner Joseph Stein. The musical tells the story of Rebecca, an immigrant who finds herself alone in America with her young son and goes through the "melting pot" experience.

Rupert will seen in the upcoming Broadway musical Legally Blonde. He received the Tony Award for Sweet Charity and has also starred in such shows as Falsettos and Elegies: A Song Cycle.

Proceeds from the Rags concert will benefit The Joey DiPaolo AIDS Foundation and Camp TLC (Teens Living with a Challenge), a residential summer camp for young people with HIV/AIDS.