Details

'The Second Annual Celebration of West End Musical Theatre' will be held for one night only at The Palace Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue and the Guest Host for the evening is Richard Wilson. All funds raised will go to 'The St Stephen's Restoration and Preservation Trust' (Reg. Charity Number: 1075080) which is a relatively small Charity desperately trying to raise £1 million plus to restore a Grade I listed redundant Church and create a Lifelong Learning Centre for the less fortunate alongside a Children's Lifetime Art Museum - although a smallish Charity the Trust's Patrons do include: Dame Judi Dench, Helena Bonham Carter, Director's Sam Mendes, Anthony Minghella and Mike Newell, Nigel Kennedy, Jude Law, Sadie Frost, Stuart Wilson and Rabbi Julia Neuberger as well as several other 'names' in various fields. This year's Gala will travel through 100 years of Musical Theatre, from the earliest shows such as Showboat and Oklahoma, through the decades focusing on shows that changed the course of Musicals such as Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar. As the years pass we find ourselves in modern times and the second act will feature a substantial number of current shows including The Lion King, Les Miserables and (yet to be confirmed 100%) Napoleon which will have only opened a short time prior to the event. The Gala's cast are all current West End performers who will bring the audience various medleys from shows or a few individual numbers and there will also be two children performing who are connected with Hampstead Hill School which is constantly working alongside St Stephen's Trust on their project. The performers will be in evening dress and the host will introduce each excerpt by outlining a brief background of the show in question. The curtain goes up at 7.30pm and is expected to be down by about 10.15pm. Tickets will go on sale w/c August 28 and range from £10 to £55 therefore making them accessible to most people. There is also an 'after show' Champagne Reception in the theatre's Stalls Bar from 10.30pm to midnight where those attending will be able to meet the cast, the host and those Patron's of the Trust that attend - currently Mike Newell and Stuart Wilson have confirmed their attendance - tickets for the Reception are £30 each which includes canap