From mouseplanet, benefit to raise funds for WDW Streetmosphere CM

[mkt]

I'll just quote mouseplanet on this one

Benefit to raise money for Studios Streetmosphere performer

Donna Charles, best known for portraying Rosie the Cleaning Lady for many years as one of the popular Streetmosphere characters at the Disney-MGM Studios, suffered a stroke three months ago, but hopes to return to work in the next week or so. Her fellow cast members have organized an after-hours benefit show at the Theater of the Stars at the Studios (normally home to Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage) to help her out. Every dollar raised will go to Donna to help defray costs for medical expenses and loss of work.

An amazing line-up of Streetmosphere characters, current and retired, will be performing, as well as some of her former colleagues from her days at the Adventurer's Club. (Please note that this will not be a typical "Disney" show, as this is an unofficial event focused on Donna.) Since the show is not being sponsored by Disney, there will be no official mention of it anywhere, and only those who are already aware of it will have any knowledge that it is occurring.


A benefit will be held on August 11 for Donna Charles, best known as Rosie the Cleaning Lady. Photo courtesy of event organizers.

A Stella Night, For "Rosie" will take place on Friday, August 11, at 9 p.m. Doors will open between 8:00 and 8:30. As this is a special event, park admission is not required. A guest relations host will greet guests attending this event at the far right of the main gate of the Studios, near the ATM. Guests will be directed through a backstage area directly to the Theater of the Stars, During this walk to the Theater, Guests will be interacting with Streetmosphere as they are directed to this "Red Carpet" event.

There is a suggested $10-per-person donation at the door. A silent auction will also be held, featuring items not available to the public from all of the Equity stage shows within the Disney-MGM Studios.

Donna Charles began working at Walt Disney World in 1982, doing trunk shows at EPCOT Center with the SAK Theater. She was selected to be a member of the original cast of the Adventurer's Club at Pleasure Island, creating the role of the club's maid. She was later asked to move to the Disney-MGM Studios to become part of what became known as Streetmosphere. She has created several Streetmosphere characters, including Rosie, who is now one of the most requested characters at the Studios.

For further information about this special benefit performance, send an email to the event's organizers (link).

 

[brkgnews]

I love her character -- last time I saw here was strolling down Sunset, singing the most god-awful blood curdling version of "Love is a many-splendored thing." Hee hee. I wish her all the best -- hate I can't be down for the benefit.

 

[LostNametag]

Oh my gosh! Im soo going to that! I heard about Donna's stroke=(. So glad they are doing this for her! I cant wait!
Thanks for posting!

 

[MicBat]

WOW! I really wish I could be there for that! This shows that WDW cast members are truly just one big family.

 

[barnum42]

Cool - anyone able to get there with a camcorder?

 

[Space1205Mount]

I want to go.
But to far from the Magic.

 

[NadieMasK2]

I think I have seen her but not sure. Does she perform with 3 others on Sunset Blvd? Does anyone have a pic of her they could share? Gosh I would go if I lived closer, it's wonderful they are showing they care about her in her time of need.

 

[WEDMagic]

I worked in the Studios for a long time in management and Donna is a fabolous lady inside and out of character. I didnt even know she had a stroke because I moved to another location. I will definetely by there in August for the event.

 

[should-be-BELLE]

There's a short video of her here:

http://www.ourlaughingplace.com/asp/movie.asp?request=listMovies&cat=park&location=MGM

She's the last clip at the very bottom.

What a character! I wish her the best! Shes so much fun to watch perform.

 

[Tim G]

bump.

 

[kennygman]

Gonna miss by 3 days, would love to be there.

 

[dixiegirl]

I was just watching some old videos...and rosie was in one of them...at mgm ..God she was halirious......our prayers go out to her and her family...

 

[VoiceGuy07]

Did she also play a character named Helen? I remember being on a back-stage tour years ago and she appeared at MGM Studios where we had lunch. She was fantastic, entertaining, and very cool. The name Donna Charles sounds so familar.

 

[STGRhost]

Oh, no! I love Rosie! I doubt you could find anyone who has anything bad to say about her - she was soo nice, onstage and off.

This really won't do her justice, but when they were rehabbing the Guest Relations lobby a few years ago, we had a temporary station set up just outside the door, with an umbrella and a folding table (Klassy, I know!) Rosie had been playing with some guests nearby, and when they moved on, she focused her attention on us. "Don't you kids got no chairs out here?". When we told her No, we were supposed to stand under the unbrella, she was livid (in character, of course). She started screaming "These kids need chairs! Where are the chairs!", and then she tried to stage a sit-in with the guests coming into the park - she sat on the ground, and they laid down, still yelling about chairs. When one confused guest asked her if she was okay (she was making quite a scene) she sat up and said "No, thanks, I'm just tired... Don't you think these kids need chairs, though?". My coworkers and I were dying, we were laughing so hard - probably not good show, but really, how could you not get a kick out of this lady

Anyway, I hope she recovers quickly. I wish I could be there for the benefit. Any chance they'll set up an online donation site?

 

[LostNametag]

On the early winter mornings when I would be opening Youse Guys by myself, she would drive down the street in her car, blasting Christmas music and loudly singing along. She'd always yell out to me "Hi darling!!" or "How you do like my cah?!!!" It would make my day.

I only got to see a couple of her skits though. I was never out on Sunset when she was. But the one I did see I'll always remember. She was going to serenade a guy [Guest] from the crowd that had gathered. So she tried to get up on the park bench. She then motioned for the Guest to help her up by pointing to her behind. She didnt think he would go for it - but he did!! He pushed her on up there! She was cracking up sooo hard she could barely finish the skit and I thought Mr Mayor, who was sitting on the bench, was going to hyperventilate! She ended up bursting into song with the prettiest voice- it was great. After the show she and Mr Mayor were in a corner of Villains in Vogue rolling with laughter. I miss her and hope that maybe she'll be at the benefit...? And yes, I will be recording!!

 

[Scar Junior]

I think it is great that people are supporting her in this way. When times get tough, CMs and managers really do care about each other. I thought she was a very funny woman. Now I kind of feel bad for skipping her performances a few times. God bless her.

 

[ZambeziZelda]

I'm showing up at WDW a few days early for my program- the 10th of August. Just confirmed with my Mom that we're definately going to the benifit. I hate to say that I hadn't heard of Rosie before this, but that clip someone posted really won me over. What a terrific woman, I truly hope she recovers quickly!

 

[barnum42]

And yes, I will be recording!!

Great. Hope we can get a way to see it online :wave:

 

[everymarble]

i'm there. without a doubt. i used to work epic and fantasmic when donna performed rosie/stella&stanley pre-shows at each. she's amazing. definitely one of the legends of the studios.

i can't wait.

 

[dixiegirl]

It was definatly rosie we seen at mgm, she was before Indiana Jones show went on...I remember her getting a guest and having thefamily video her and rosie ....All I can hear is her saying" Hi everyone back home..this is Rosie"...