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YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Bill Cosby, Chita Rivera to share NYC benefit show

    By MARK KENNEDY - AP Drama Writer | AP – Fri, Oct 7, 2011

    NEW YORK (AP) — At 74, Bill Cosby says he doesn't want to dawdle.

    "When you hit the 70 mark, some of your friends have been destroyed or are dead," the comedian and activist says by phone. "You keep going, but you do have a feeling that as you're walking forward, someone's turning the lights out behind you."

    One of America's most beloved and groundbreaking joke-tellers, Cosby has leveraged his fame — he is the first black actor to win a lead actor Emmy and beloved for his groundbreaking series "The Cosby Show" — to give back.

    "We really don't want waste time," he says of his septuagenarian peers. "I just don't want to leave without thanking those who are doing good. It doesn't have to be a big thing."

    Cosby has found one of those things in an Oct. 13 benefit for the organization Art Start at New York City's 1,500-seat Town Hall. The comedian will be joined by Chita Rivera and Mark Nadler for a one-night-only performance of "Laugh, Sing, Dance."

    "I'll do part of my show that I've been doing around the country," says Rivera, 78, who is an old friend of Cosby's. She'll be singing songs from musicals she's most famous for, including "Kiss of the Spider Woman," ''Chicago," ''West Side Story" and "Bye Bye Birdie."

    Art Start, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, has been providing visual and performing arts programs for New York City's most at-risk youth, offering an outlet for children who are homeless, leaving jail or coping with parents in crisis.

    "Many of these children are homeless. Many are feeling strongly unempowered, not having a choice about anything," Cosby says. "Through touching, feeling, hearing, seeing, these kids may be able to disappear from the gloom in their heart."

    Nadler, a singer and pianist who is a member of Art Start's board of directors, brought the two acclaimed performers together for the event. Ticket prices range from $35 to $150.

    Tony Award-winning Rivera was most recently on Broadway in "Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life" and was recently seen in the Signature Theatre's production of "The Visit." She's doing a reading for a new musical and is slated to continue her concerts. Cosby is awaiting the release of his new book, "I Didn't Ask to be Born (But I'm Glad I Was)," which comes out Nov. 1.

    For Cosby, helping kids is a mission and getting to work with Rivera is just icing on the cake. "She has one of the greatest laughs. Period. Especially at our age," he says. "She just laughs so hard so it's my pleasure.

    ___

    Online:

    Art Start: http://www.art-start.org

    Rivera: http://www.chitarivera.com

    Cosby: http://www.billcosby.com

     

    10 comments

    • cretin
      cretin  •  7 mths ago
      Bill, I hope you read this and not because it comes from somebody who hoped to meet you.
      You give class,style, and humility to every audience. I think its wonderful in your later years (when they are turning the lights off behind you) that you give your time your name and fame to help others. Good on you!
    • Marianne
      Marianne  •  7 mths ago
      These are legends. Chita has brought such class, talent, enthusiasm, and
      professionalism. It really is sad that people have such unflattering things to someone who
      has matured, given so much.
    • none
      none  •  7 mths ago
      are they going to serve Jello pudding at the event?
    • What Now
      What Now  •  7 mths ago
      Bravo Mr Cosby!
    • A Thinker
      A Thinker  •  7 mths ago
      If you are not living and giving, Your dead...
      • JB007
        JB007 7 mths ago
        You're.
      • A Thinker
        A Thinker 7 mths ago
        I did see that right after I hit return, And actually wonder which lonely person would correct me. You win. Best Part For Being Dyslexic. Spell check does make my life much easier. Wish we had these back in the 70's when I went to school. Hope you feel complete now. I always get a get out of you bored people. and sometimes I actually think I did it right and just hit send. Oh well can't be a perfect a hole like you. Blessing to all the people who are forced to deal with you while you continue to breathe.:) Them that took a while a lot of red dots. Im sure I got em all.
      • A Thinker
        A Thinker 7 mths ago
        Opps a couple of mistakes. Biggest would be, It is Whew that took a while.
    • George
      George  •  7 mths ago
      HEY......HEY.....HEY. Bravo you guys !
    • none
      none  •  7 mths ago
      i have only two words for Cosby, Tawana Brawley
    • cul
      cul  •  7 mths ago
      People don't really care about this old bats, Chita and Bill please stay away and have some self respect and dignity.
      • amw207
        amw207 7 mths ago
        Have you ever seen Bill Cosby in concert? He came to Portland last year and could have wiped the floor with comics a third his age. YOU might not care, but those of us over 30 do. That he can talk about more than #$%$ booze and sex is probably what's confusing you.
      • Marianne
        Marianne 7 mths ago
        You better care as we are the ones who suffer. Nearly every artist in musical
        theatre would say they have grown because of Chita's work, her ethics, her
        total performances and what she has contributed to this industry. By the way
        what have you contributed. With that childish statement above I would say
        not a thing. Good luck with you narrow life.
    • Notherday
      Notherday  •  7 mths ago
      Class act
    • mib
      mib  •  7 mths ago
      I just don't like him anymore, no matter what he does
      • cretin
        cretin 7 mths ago
        so who likes you?
     Post a comment
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