Patti LaBelle Benefit Gala

Diva replaces Diva Patti LaBelle to replace Aretha Franklin (April 13, 2004 Poughkeepsie, NY) On March 24th, Aretha Franklin was forced to postpone her March 28 headlining appearance at the Bardavon 2004 Annual Fundraising Benefit Gala after she was hospitalized due to an allergic reaction to antibiotics. Bardavon Executive Director Chris Silva said that he learned late last week that Ms. Franklin had been advised by her doctors not to travel for at least three months or more. So today the Bardavon is pleased to announce that the Bardavon Benefit Gala will go on with superstar diva Patti LaBelle replacing sister diva Aretha Franklin with a performance now scheduled for Sunday, April 25th at 7pm. "Though we are disappointed that Aretha remains too ill to travel, and hope to bring her back in the future, we're delighted to have been able to quickly book another great music legend, Patti LaBelle. She will perform a full show including 16 musicians and back up singers that is certain to take the roof off the opera house.” As a coincidental preview, one week before the Bardavon Gala, Patti LaBelle will co-host with Jessica Simpson the Seventh Annual Star-Studded VH1 "Divas" Show as a Benefit Concert for the VH1 Save the Music Foundation. Patti LaBelle is set to deliver a soulful, sexy and unstoppable performance next Sunday in Las Vegas and one week later in Poughkeepsie. "VH1 Divas" will air live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 18 at 9:00 pm ET/PT. The theater is currently contacting all Aretha Franklin ticket holders to inform them of the new date and artist and wishes to thank the hundreds of gala supporters for their patience in this process. Any questions about tickets, including availability of tickets should be directed to the Bardavon Box Office. The Bardavon is indebted to our sponsors without whose incredible support this amazing Gala with Patti LaBelle would not be possible.