Source: ABC Entertainment

All-Star Event Features Performances by Whoopi Goldberg, KC & The Sunshine Band, Usher, Gloria Gaynor, Mya, Thelma Houston, The Village People, Irene Cara, The Pointer Sisters, Chic and Roselyn Sanchez

Paula Abdul, George Lopez, Cedric the Entertainer and Ali Landry are Among the Celebrities Who Will Introduce the Performers

June 30th, 2003--Dust off the platform shoes, send the leisure suit to the cleaners and get ready to get down and funky, because ABC is throwing an all-star party celebrating that phenomenon called disco, in the two-hour special, "The Disco Ball," airing THURSDAY, JULY 17 (8:00-10:00 p.m.), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD: 11/16/03)

This once-in-a-lifetime musical event was taped at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles -- and the Shrine never looked so cool! The venerable venue was transformed into Club Shrine, the hottest nightspot in the country, featuring a disco built on platforms over one-third of the auditorium's downstairs seats, with three performance areas and balcony seating for an additional 3,500 people. And since "The Disco Ball" is NOT an awards show, the musical performances absolutely NEVER STOP.

Legendary performers of the disco era, as well as some of today's biggest stars, will jump onto multiple stages and perform the classics that defined the disco era, including:

· Whoopi Goldberg & Martha Wash - "It's Raining Men"

· Gloria Gaynor - "I Will Survive"

· Usher - "Ain't No Stopping Us Now"

· The Village People - "Macho Man" & "YMCA"

· Mya - "Turn the Beat Around"

· KC & The Sunshine Band - "Shake Your Booty" & "Get Down Tonight"

· Thelma Houston - "Don't Leave Me This Way"

· Irene Cara - "Flashdance…What a Feeling"

· Chic - "Le Freak"

· Aaron Carter - "I Just Want to Be Your Everything"

· Taylor Dayne - "I Love the Night Life"

· Roselyn Sanchez - "Hot Stuff"

· The Spinners - "Working My Way Back To You, Babe"

· The Trammps featuring Earl Young - "Disco Inferno"

· Nicki French - "Total Eclipse of the Heart"

· Natural -- featuring a "Saturday Night Fever" musical tribute - "Stayin' Alive," "How Deep is Your Love" & "You Should Be Dancing" - Wilmer Valderrama ("That '70s Show") makes a special dance appearance

· The Pointer Sisters - "Jump" & "I'm So Excited"

· Cheryl Lynn - "Got To Be Real"

Adding spice to this already tangy event is a special disco fashion show, featuring some of the most outrageous models ever seen as they strut down the catwalk to the tune of "Dancing Queen."

In addition, celebrities will be boogying to the beat during the celebration and introduce the performers, including Paula Abdul ("American Idol"), Brooke Burke (E!'s "Rank"), Cedric the Entertainer, Whoopi Goldberg, Ali Landry, George Lopez ("George Lopez"), Sara Rue ("Less Than Perfect"), Ryan Seacrest ("American Idol"), Wilmer Valderrama ("That '70s Show") and writer/actor Bruce Vilanch.

Ticket receipts benefited AIDS Project Los Angeles, one of the nation's largest service organizations, providing direct services to more than 10,000 men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS in L.A. County.

The special was conceived and executive-produced by John Hamlin and directed and co-executive-produced by Jeff Margolis. Tisha Fein, Kenny Ortega and Greg Sills served as producers. Mick McCullough and Gloria Fujita O'Brien were supervising producers. The writers were Bruce Vilanch and Fred Bronson. The choreographer was Travis Payne and the musical director was Rickey Minor. "The Disco Ball" is from Jeff Margolis Productions.