American Cancer Society's "Desert Spirit XIX" Features the Finest Chefs for the Desert's Premiere Food and Entertainment Event

By Tim Kennedy

WHO: American Cancer Society Desert Palms Area Office, with event Chairperson Nelda Linsk; Host Restaurateur, Paul Bruggemans; American Cancer Society California Division CEO David Veneziano; Broadway star Byron Nease; American Cancer Society Regional Vice President Stephen Browning; American Cancer Society past National President Sally West Brooks; and recipients of the "Celebration of Life" Award, Michael and Stephanie Landes.

WHAT: Desert Spirit XIX - The Desert's Premiere Food and Entertainment Event featuring gourmet dining from: Bing Crosby's Restaurant and Piano Lounge; Castelli's Restorante; El Mirasol, Le St. Germain, Le Vallauris, Wally's Desert Turtle, Sullivan's Steakhouse; Tommy Bahamas Tropical Cafe; Kaiser Restaurant Group (Kaiser Grille, Hog's Breath Inn, The Chop House); and Pacifica Seafood Restaurant.

WHEN: Sunday, April 27, 6:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception hosted by Saks Fifth Avenue, 7:30 p.m. dinner & entertainment; this year's event will feature Broadway star Byron Nease, as he sings favorites from his 25 years on the New York stage, with music by the Pat Rizzo Orchestra.

WHERE: The Gardens on El Paseo; 73-585 El Paseo, Palm Desert, in the parking lot behind Saks Fifth Avenue, enter from the rear of the complex via Shadow Mountain Dr.

WHY: Funds benefit Coachella Valley and Morongo Valley services and programs of the American Cancer Society, as well as cancer research programs nationwide and in California.

Entertainment Announced for Desert Spirit XIX

Nelda Linsk, chairperson for the desert's premier food and entertainment gala, Desert Spirit XIX, has announced that Broadway star Byron Nease will be the featured entertainment at the event to be held on April 27th at The Gardens on El Paseo. The event, celebrating its 19th year, benefits the community-based programs and services of the American Cancer Society.

The show features several songs from the extraordinary career of Nease, who has played leading men in all the great Broadway hits: Phantom of the Opera; Camelot; Carousel, South Pacific; West Side Story, A Little Night Music. . .to name a few. Nease will be accompanied by the Pat Rizzo Orchestra.

Byron has harmonized from the Hollywood Bowl to Carnegie Hall with dozens of symphonies. Honored to have sung at The White House as well as in the Senate Chambers, he has also performed high atop New York City at the world renowned Rainbow Room and sung in over 100 countries around the world.

Mr. Nease can be heard on the multi-platinum original Canadian cast recording of The Phantom of the Opera, Bittersuite, Love Stories, Leading Men Don't Dance, as well as his own critically acclaimed solo CD Byron Nease - Listen to My Heart, as well as his recently released live concert performance of From the Parsonage to Broadway.

Tickets for Desert Spirit are available for $300 per person by calling the Desert Palms office of the American Cancer Society, (760) 568-2691, option 3 at the recording.

For information on cancer prevention, detection, treatment, recovery or free services anytime, call the American Cancer Society 24/7 at (800) ACS-2345 or visit www.cancer.org