News Release
10 February 2009
Skylight to benefit from 'Starlight Express' preview
Skylight, the Wellington-based charitable organisation that provides support to children, young persons and the families/whānau through trauma, change, loss and grief, is to benefit from a special Charity Preview of the Andrew Lloyd Webber show Starlight Express on 30 June at the TSB Arena.
One of the most successful musicals of all-time and second only to Cats as the longest running show in British theatre history, Starlight Express is being brought to New Zealand by Stewart Macpherson. The promoters, the Really Useful Group (Andrew Lloyd Webber’s company), the performers and Ticketek have all waived their fees and royalties so that three charities including Wellington’s Skylight receive $45 of the special $50 ticket price for the preview show.
Mrs Bice Awan, Skylight’s Chief Executive says, “This is an amazing show and the generosity of all those involved has provided a wonderful opportunity for Wellingtonians to support Skylight and enjoy a fantastic evening’s entertainment.
“It is also a most appropriate association for Skylight, given that Starlight Express follows a child’s dream in which his toy train set comes to life, and is unique in that all 28 performers are on roller skates.”
Starlight Express opened in London on 27 March 1984. Since then the show has been produced in Germany, the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia and Mexico. Andrew Lloyd Webber, who conceived the show and composed the music, also produced Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar. Richard Stilgoe, Don Black and David Yasbek are responsible for the lyrics, and Arlene Phillips, of Hot Gossip dancers fame, the choreography.
Tickets to the Charity Preview are now on sale. To take advantage of this offer, you need to purchase tickets through Ticketek; phone bookings can be made by calling 04 384 3842. Bookings for the Preview cannot be made via the Internet. You must also identify your chosen charity in order for the donation to be allocated to that charity. The other two charities are Muscular Dystrophy and Cure Kids.
“As the only Wellington-based charity, we hope that Wellingtonians will support us in this fun event by purchasing their tickets in our name and thereby enabling Skylight to make the most of this wonderful opportunity. The money raised from the event will go towards providing our services to the many people that need our support,” Bice Awan said.
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Mrs Bice Awan
Chief Executive, Skylight
04 939 6759
027 440 7940
Or
Sonja Deely
Funding Development Manager, Skylight
04 939 8578
027 629 5821
Each
year, Skylight directly helps more than 5,000 young people and their
families around New Zealand, including more than 900 children, young
people and their families in Wellington, Hutt Valley and Porirua.
Skylight’s services include counselling, support groups, training and
professional development, advocacy, and books and other information
from its extensive resource library. Travellers, a schools-based
programme for year nine pupils, is another Skylight initiative.
Issued by Kate McGavin, Adroite (04 496 5510) on behalf of Skylight.