Doctors Fund Benefit - Cherry Grove Archives Collection

DOCTORS FUND BENEFIT SHOWS

The Doctors Fund Benefit Shows began in 1997.

And this fabulous communtiy fundraiser ran for 18 years.

It all began with a need to cover costs at the Doctor’s House, which assisted Grove residents with various healthcare services, and was owned by the Cherry Grove Community Association (CGCAI).

Though the house was maintained by the CGCAI, it needed funding to cover the basic costs of running the house.

When Meryl and Lois (the owners of Cherrys on the Bay at the time) came to Donald LaBohn and asked him to put together a show in just a few weeks, he turned to his partner Evan Kane and together they assembled a group of local drag talent to put on a dazzling show.

Their alter-egos of Silvia and Shirley (the Shapiro Sisters) would lead a cast of Grove performers, bringing the flare of old-world Hollywood spectacles to the Cherrys stage and eventually taking over the Community House for an evening of two (back-to-back) shows, all to raise money for the vital services of the Doctor’s House.

The four creators of the Doctor’s Fund Benefit Shows (L to R): Louis McIntosh and Meryl Facterman and (above), Evan Kane and Donald LaBohn (below).

LISTEN to an audio clip from Evan Kane talking about how two tragic community moments would result in Meryl and Lois creating the Doctor’s Fund Benefit Shows, which his husband Donald would direct for 18 years.

LISTEN to an audio clip from Donald LaBohn explaining how he came to direct the Doctors Fund Benefit shows in 1997.

The Doctor’s Fund Benefit Shows were a unique blend of humor and glamour, that allowed Cherry Grove community members to showcase their talents.

For some that meant performing in drag and for others it was all about creating the elaborate sets to match the theme of each year’s show.

Grove icons like Randy Riggs, Dixie, Cobra, Charity Charles, Bobbie Green and many more would regularly take the stage for tongue-in-cheek numbers that had the crowds roaring with laughter and applause…making the shows a huge success in raising the much-needed funds to keep the Doctor’s House operating.

The Doctor’s House (also known as "Belly Acres"), was a modest medical facility overseen by many community volunteers through the years. Joanne Tavis was one of those volunteers working to raise money for the Doctors Fund, which was created to cover the costs of operations...and soon she would also find herself on stage, as a featured performer in many of the Doctors Fund Benefit Shows.

LISTEN to an audio clip from Joanne Tavis, who managed the Doctor’s House and appeared in many of the shows.

Volunteers at the Doctor's House: (L to R) Joanne Tavis, Hussein Tahan, Joan Van Ness, Patricia Goff, Nancy Adams and Peg Ryan.

LISTEN to an audio clip from Evan Kane and Donald LaBohn about their drag personas Silvia (E) and Shirley (D), better known as the Shapiro Sisters.

LISTEN to an audio clip from Donald LaBohn and Evan Kane talking about how their shows were influenced by the strength and glamour of Hollywood women.

After several seasons on the small stage at Cherrys, in 2002 it was time to say Auf Wiedersehen and move the show to the Cherry Grove Community House.

LISTEN to an audio clip from Evan Kane and Donald LaBohn about how the Doctors Fund Shows Benefit shows moved to the Community House.

LISTEN to an audio clip from Roland Michely explaining how he brought the Doctors Fund Benefit to the Community House.

WATCH a collection of clips from the Doctors Fund Benefit Shows at Cherrys on the Bay, performed on a tiny stage with crowds overflowing out of the bar.

In 2003 the Doctors Fund Benefit Shows officially moved from the small stage of Cherrys on the Bay to the historic Cherry Grove Community House and Theater.

The Community House is the longest running LGBTQIA+ theater in the United States and when the Doctors Fund Benefit was moved from Cherrys to the this legendary location, the show became even more fabulous.

At the theater, the sets could be bigger and the cast could grow to include even more talented drag queens (and kings), singers, dancers and musicians.

From moving carousels to a life-sized King Kong hand, the Doctors Fund Benefit was famous for its over-the-top shows and flamboyant productions…until the shows ended in 2014, just before the Community Association sold the Doctor’s House to Northwell.

Since the Doctors Fund Benefit Shows began Donald had a vision of five fabulously identical queens opening each show. It immediately enflamed the crowd into applause, laughter and celebration, which became a trademark of the event.

LISTEN to an audio clip of Evan and Donald talking about the opening number tradition. And the stress of being completely insync.

WATCH a 3 minute clip highlighting some of the opening numbers from the Doctors' Benefit Shows

WATCH the full 34 minute video of the full highlighted opening numbers.

Donald created variety shows with Cherry Grove performers that included elaborate sets and costumes...featuring lipsynching, dancing, and live singing.

Each year Donald LaBohn would create a new Doctors Fund Benefit show, with all new numbers, costumes and sets…but he often used a regular cast of players to star in his yearly tribute to community and glamour. Donald and his partner Evan Kane (as their drag characters Shirley and Silvia) often would co-host with another well-known Cherry Grove couple Randy Riggs and John Cella...and another Grove icon “Cobra” began her famous career as a card-girl in the show.

Grove women were pulled into the experience of drag as well, bringing the “masculine” elements to the shows. Not only escorting queens on (and off) the stage, they would also take on lip-syncing the male vocal numbers and assisting the starlets for their performances.

Quickly these kings became a staple of the show.

Meryl Facterman and her partner Lois McIntosh would produce the amazing spectacle each year, with Grove legends like Charity Charles, Joan Van Ness, Dixie and Bob “Rose” Levine .

Turning Donald’s vision into a reality took long rehearsal hours and lots of glamour.

Many long nights were spent in the Cherry Grove Theater, over several weeks...working to make the show perfect.

LISTEN to an audio clip of Donald LaBohn and Evan Kane about the attention to detail and the high standards that were put on the cast of each production.

Because the entire cast and audience were Cherry Grove community members, each performance took on a special quality that can only be experienced in such unique queer spaces.

Everyone is "in" on the joke...and each performer is commenting on their own identity and their place in the Cherry Grove social community.

WATCH a clip of "Gotta Have a Gimmick", featuring Joanne Tavis, Bobbie Green and Doreen Rallo. Joanne (and her wife Lois) explain just how such personal and celebratory moments happened during the Doctors Fund Benefit Shows.

Each production had two shows in one evening, packing the house for both...though the second seating was famously known as the "wilder" performance.

LISTEN to an audio clip from Evan Kane explaining how there were two shows in one night, and the second show was generally known to be more “wild”.

Thousands of Cherry Grove visitors and residents were helped over the years at the Doctors House, with quality care by a credited medical staff.

Much of that communal assistance was accomplished because of the work of Donald LaBohn, Evan Kane, Lois McIntosh, Meryl Facterman and so many Grove community members who gave their time and talents to contribute to the thriving culture and lifestyle of Cherry Grove...continuing to keep the the Grove a LGBTQIA+ safe haven, as it has been since the 1940's.

THANK YOU ALL!!!

WATCH a 30 min collection of performances from the Doctors Fund Benefit Shows at the historic Cherry Grove Community House and Theater.

1997 - Cherrys a la Mode
1998 - Cherrys a la Mode II
1999 - Broads on Broadway
2000 - Fringe Benefits
2001 - Forbidden Cherry Grove
2002 - Chapel of Love
2003 - Hollywood Blackouts
2004 - Broadway Bombshells
2005 - The Fabulous 50's

2006 - The High Fashion Follies
2007 - Dames, Damsels and Dumb Blondes
2008 - Sweet Talkin’ Guys
2009 - Hooray For Hollywood
2010 - The Roaring 20's
2011 - Hubba, Hubba, Hubba
2012 - Inside Cherry Grove - Illusions and Delusions
2013 - There's No Tune Like a Showtune
2014 - Scenes From the Cutting Room Floor