One-night only celebration of Stephen Schwartz will raise funds for the London transfer of Hope Mill’s Rags

Aria Entertainment and Hope Mill Theatre will continue their on-going successful partnership with Stephen Schwartz with a special gala fundraiser celebrating the writer’s work.

Timed to raise funds to help finance the London transfer run of Hope Mill’s critically-acclaimed production of Schwartz’s Rags The Musical at the Park Theatre in North London, the show on Sunday 19 January 2020 will feature performances by artists from previous Aria Entertainment and Hope Mill Theatre productions.

Presented by Aria Entertainment and Hope Mill Theatre in association with Park Theatre, The Spark of Creation will showcase the most famous works of the American lyricist and composer and will include a panel discussion and audience Q&A with the man whose hits include Wicked, Godspell and Pippin.

The one-night only event will be staged part way through the limited London run of Rags The Musical at Park200 from 9 January until 8 February 2020

Presented by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment and Hope Mill Theatre in association with Knockhardy Productions and Finsbury Park’s Park Theatre, the new version of the musical which received its UK premiere at the Manchester venue earlier this year is directed by Hope Mill regular Bronagh Lagan (Little Women, Putting It Together).

The production features musical direction by Joe Bunker, orchestrations by Nick Barstow, choreography by Philip Michael Thomas, set and costume design by Gregor Donnelly, lighting design by Derek Anderson, sound design by James Nicholson and casting by Jane Deitch.

With a book by Joseph Stein (Fiddler on the Roof), lyrics by Schwartz (Wicked) and music by Charles Strouse (Annie), the story of a Russian immigrant who travels to America with her son in search of a better life debuted on Broadway in 1986.

The writers have re-worked and revised the show a number of times, most recently in 2017. Hope Mill Theatre’s production of the well-received 2017 version which features a revised book by David Thompson debuted in Manchester in March this year with Rebecca Trehearn in the central role. Casting for the transfer run will be announced at a later date.

Angela Thomas