He debuted as the "hottest new comer to daytime TV", in his role as Noah Chase on Guiding Light and his portrayal of sociopath Daniel Colson, on One Life to Live, was acclaimed, as the highest rated storyline for its demographic in the thirty-five year history of the show. His most challenging role by far was Off Broadway at The Public Theatre, playing Bruce Niles in The Normal Heart. The revival of Larry Kramer's landmark play detailing the AIDS crisis in the early eighties was as gruelling as it was rewarding. "We had to deal with death every night for three hours. It was however, one of the greatest learning experiences of my life". Listening to Mr. Dobies talk about his craft and his various and sundry approaches to it is enlightening. He asks the right questions and gives more than a few right answers and insight. His new journey is Shake the Tree Productions, one that he is taking with his partner, Toni D'Antonio, to develop and produce original character-driven projects that challenge conformity and trigger imagination. The man, a good friend to this cause for years, is worthy of more than simple interest

Website: Mark Dobies

Marj Dusay has been all over the Soap Opera Globe from Guiding Light to Santa Barbara to All My Children to Capitol. She is a journeyman actor and where she shows up it is all the better. To have an AIDS Walk fund-raiser with Soap Opera actors and not have her there is tantamount to discounting first hand experience.

She has stepped into many a difficult situation as an actress, but none so difficult as the real life situation as losing a son. During one of her stints as Alexandra Spaulding on Guiding Light, she was interviewed by Soap Opera Weekly and shortly thereafter the unthinkable happened to her. She said this in an addendum to that interview entitled, "A Mother's Farewell" as advice to the parents of children with AIDS:

Be there with them ... at least write notes, talk. Say, "I care." It's a very lonely -- very lonely -- embarrassing disease. You're sitting around not knowing when you're going to go ... A lot of them are really trying to accept their own fate ... the only thing that you can do that'll make you feel better is at least get the word out there that you love them ... Let them know you care ... You can do that.

She continues to let us know that she cares. She has joined the POZ team.

Website: Marj Dusay Official Web Site

Ilene Kristen a New Yorker through and through has lived in just about everywhere there. She found herself living on the Upper West Side for some of her formative years. As many an urban child, especially of that era, she and her sister were given directives regarding which streets could be traveled.

One street that had 100% permission for her young adventures was Broadway, which served as inspiration for the luminous and joyous noise she gave forth in a duet of Boogaloo Down Broadway after her show one evening at the Triad where she often performs.

Ilene's shows are full of reminiscences in which she relates to her audience as if they were in her living room. She herself says so. Nonetheless her music is sultry, smooth and funky at one and the same time. Still this smoothness wraps itself around complex and sensitive lyrics in her original material. As fortune would have it, one of her songs "Flesh & Blood" is found on the Hurricane Katrina Benefit Recording One Life Many Voices that she and her co-stars from One Life to Live have put together.

"Hold on to the earth with your own two hands and never say goodbye" are the lyrics she wrote in response to The World Trade Center tragedy and the loss of her good friend Nancy Addison from Ryan's Hope. Speaking of inspiration, Ilene Kristen's fans would do her and themselves a great service in encouraging her to record more of her moving and intelligent sounds in a project all her own.

She has lost many friends to AIDS and is very much impacted by the disease which has now ravaged the world for over twenty five years. It's no wonder that this vibrant, diminutive powerhouse was the very first to commit to our fundraiser. To know her is to love her.

Website: The Official Ilene Kristen Website

Stewart Lewis' soulful blend of pop and folk has been featured on Ghost Whisperer, MTV's Laguna Beach, Joan of Arcadia, Dawson's Creek, Biggest Loser, and the 20th Century Fox feature film Firehouse Dog. He has shared the stage with Grammy winner Shawn Colvin and indie stalwart Ani Difranco. Recently, Stewart has become the very first artist signed to the Here! TV Network and Regent Entertainment's new music venture, Here! Tunes, who just released his new CD, In Formation. He is also the author of the semi-autobiographical novel Rockstarlet, and Relative Stranger (praised by Augusten Burroughs) both from Alyson Books.

Website: Stewart Lewis Myspace

Ken Lundie began his career with Disney during college as a scholarship recipient to the inaugural season of Disney World's Kids of the Kingdom and Musical Theatre Experience. He has become a musician par excellence and the POZ team is very fortunate to have his talent on board. Ken spends much of his time at the famed Radio City Music Hall accompanying and arranging for the world famous Rockettes. He also plays for and coaches some of the country's finest talent. Last year at POZ's fund raiser at Prohibition, Ken and old friend, Ilene Kristen, rediscovered each other. This year they will be put their talents together to make the evening even more special.

While living in Hollywood Ken appeared with Dolly Parton in the film version of Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and with Mae West in her last movie Sextette. Ken has also served as Associate Musical Director for Jimmy Buffett on his Don't Stop The Carnival. He is the musical supervisor for Westchester Broadway Theatre and its educational program.

Barbara Porteus is the quintessential cabaret performer who can give you precisely what you came for from Stephen Sondheim to Johnny Mercer. She has performed in such shows as The Sound of Music with Marie Osmond, How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying with Donald O'Connor and Side by Side by Sondheim. She has opened for Sid Caesar, Ben Vereen, Petula Clark and many others. Her extensive and impressive resume includes performing and touring with Eddy Arnold and Bing Sings Whilst Bregman Swings. She comes to us via her collaboration with the ubiquitous Ken Lundie and her presence brings to us a performer of the highest calibre.

Many people got to see Matt Walton in his incarnation as the intrinsically evil Terry McDermott on All My Children and now know that he is much more than that. He is simply a hard working guy , one of those actors who keep you watching whether it's in television, on film or on stage. One of his recent endeavours Montclair saw him as part of a very talented ensemble as well as an Associate Producer for a very creative and unique independent film project. He will be seen in the upcoming Coen Brothers' espionage film Burn After Reading and Law & Order: Criminal Intent in a recurring role. He's made such an impression in his work as the "Optimum guy," someone wants to start a fan club for him. He is definitely one of the good guys with a strong creative streak. He makes it a point to support us in all our efforts.

Website: Matt Walton Official Site