OSF Presents 25th Daedalus Project for AIDS/HIV Organizations, 8/20

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival invites the public to its 25th annual Daedalus Project, a benefit for AIDS/HIV organizations, on Monday, August 20. Last season's Project raised $90,000 for AIDS/HIV organizations.

For decades, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival company and audience have come together in August for The Daedalus Project. This annual weekend of events raises money to end the spread of HIV/AIDS, and to remember and celebrate those who have died from this disease. We welcome you to join us for the 25th Anniversary of this entertaining, inspiring weekend.

The centerpiece event is the evening Daedalus Variety Show, an inventive parade of acts, ranging from the outrageous to the poignant, all created by the OSF company and local community artists. Ray Porter will host the evening with musical direction from Gary Busby. This family-friendly event will be held on Monday, August 20 at 7:30 p.m. on the Elizabethan Stage. Click here to purchase tickets, which are priced at $35 or $30. The show will be sign-interpreted.

This year's event will feature a play reading of a rock concert version of the 70's era classic The Rocky Horror Show, complete with a band, transvestites-a-gogo and of course "Let's do the Time Warp, again!" The Rocky Horror Show is directed by David Kelly with musical direction by Darcy Danielson. Showtime is 2:00 pm in the Angus Bowmer Theatre. The play reading is sold out at this time, but there is an opportunity to purchase onstage VIP seats ($100.00) at the Arts and Treasures Sale held in the Angus Bowmer Theatre from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

If you've seen the work on OSF's stages, you know the company has its share of talents, but if you visit our Daedalus Sales throughout the weekend, you will see how sweet, savory, sparkling and truly strange those talents can be. Visit the bricks for a glass of lemonade and some commemorative 25th Anniversary Daedalus T-shirts and posters. Step into the Bowmer Theatre lobby on Monday, August 20 for baked goods, Pribyl's pesto and the Daedalus Arts and Treasures Sale, where you can buy anything from hand-crafted jewelry to dinner cooked in your home by an actor, or purchase props from your favorite OSF production.

And if you need a chance to work off those Daedalus cookies in advance, lace up your running shoes! The Daedalus 5K is back! Join us, on Sunday, August 19 at 9:00 AM, for a fun run around Lithia Park. Look forward to prizes, a raffle and a chance to see some of your favorite actors in short-shorts...if you can keep up! Online registration forms are available here.

This year's Daedalus Project is directed and organized by Miriam Laube, Christine Albright, Mark Bedard, Ted Deasy, Emily Knapp, and produced by Claudia Alick. The 5K Run is organized by Miles Fletcher.

Following each year's benefit, OSF distributes proceeds to local, regional, national and international organizations HIV and AIDS charitable organizations. In 2011, OSF distributed funds to the following:

OnTrack, Inc. - Alan F. Collins AIDS Project, Medford: $55,000

HIV Alliance (Josephine, Douglas, Curry, Coos counties): $15,000

Siskiyou County HIV/AIDS Foundation (SCHAF): $10,000

Africare: $4,000

G.R.A.C.E. USA: $6,000

OSF artistic associate James Edmondson had the original idea for an AIDS/HIV fundraiser 24 years ago. OSF Artistic Director Emeritus Jerry Turner named the event the Daedalus Project after the story of Daedalus from Greek mythology. Daedalus and his son, Icarus, were imprisoned in a labyrinth by King Minos, and by crafting wings from wax and feathers, Daedalus created a way out of the maze.

In the last 24 years, the Daedalus Project has become greater than the sum of its parts. Not only has the event raised a grand total of $1.3 million for AIDS/HIV related charities, but it has created a tradition of remembrance, celebration and collective action for our company, community and audience. We thank you for your participation and look forward to seeing you on August 20.

For more information about the Daedalus Project, visit our website.