FUNKY FUNDRAISING

LITERARY! J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, and John Irving are to headline a fundraiser at Radio City Music Hall on August 1 and August 2, 2006. The beneficiaries: Doctors Without Borders and The Haven Foundation, which helps performing artists whose accidents or illnesses have left them uninsured and unable to work. Tickets, which will run from $12.50 to $100, will be available through Ticketmaster beginning Friday, May 12 at 10 am EST.

PHOTOGRAPHIC! On Tuesday, May 16 there will be a Celebrity Camera Benefit Party at the Leslie Lohman Gallery (26 Wooster Street). That means you can bid on disposable cameras containing shots by more than 100 colorful people including

Laurie Anderson
Charles Busch
Michael Cerveris
Alan Cumming
Harvey Fierstein
Marga Gomez
Debbie Harry
Murray Hill
Lucy Lawless
Jonathan Lethem
Guy Maddin
Heather Matarazzo
John Cameron Mitchell
Rick Moody
Michael Musto
Tristan Taormino
Gus Van Sant
B.D. Wong

The moolah goes to gay and lesbian film organizations MIX NYC and The 19th NY Lesbian & Gay Experimental Film Festival. Admission is $20; the party starts at 7 pm with performances starting at 9:30 pm.

AUCTIONKARAOKEAN! The Katharsis Theater Company (whose managing director and, um, website consultant are friends of Blog About Town) is hosting Cocktails, Karaoke and a Live & Silent Auction on Monday, May 22 at Rialto (265 Elizabeth Street between Prince and Houston) starting at 7 pm. I understand that cast members of Shining City will be among the participating thespians, so if you've ever wondered how Oliver Platt and Martha Plimpton sing, this is your chance (no word whether they'll essay "Summer Days/Summer Nights" or "Love Will Keep Us Together" or "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" or...). There will be unlimited chow and Grey Goose vodka; auction goodies include theater tickets, a John Dominis photograph of Mickey Mantle, and getaways including a week in Missoula, Montana! Tickets are $30 advance/$40 door/$100 for an exclusive jewelry raffle.