With this year’s MAD Drag Night shelved due to the Coronavirus-crisis, a number of former celebrity hosts have been enlisted for a special fundraising online show this weekend.
Celebrating the glitz and glamour of one of the highlights of the Make A Difference Trust’s fundraising calendar, the Best of A MAD Drag Night will stream live on YouTube at 6.30pm on Sunday 26 July 2020.
John Barrowman, Faye Tozer, Dr Ranj, Sherrie Hewson, Hayley Tamaddon, Harriet Thorpe, Tom Read Wilson, David Ames and Jenny Ryan will all feature in the show in support of MAD’s emergency assistance fund.
The footage from the previous live shows will feature West End performers drawn from hit shows including: The Book Of Mormon, Mary Poppins, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Wicked, Hamilton, City of Angels, The Prince of Egypt, Les Misérables, Come From Away, Cats, 9 to 5 and Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
Announcing the show which will take place on the day when the live event should have been held, MAD Drag co-creator David O’Reilly said: “Obviously it is very disappointing that we can’t put on our live show which has really become a highlight on the West End Theatre calendar. However, we understand the risk that Covid-19 poses and with that in mind we are putting together the very next best thing. Our audience will be taken on a trip down memory lane, looking back at A MAD Drag Night Best Bits from the last five years. It’ll take more than a world pandemic to stop our show!”
Money raised by the show will go towards the Make A Difference Trust’s Covid-19 hardship fund, opened with £5,000 from the charity’s own reserves with an aim to raise £50,000 to help as many performers, technicians, front of house staff, creatives, production staff, theatre administration and support staff as possible.
Commenting on the online event, Melanie Tranter, chair of the Make A Difference Trust said: “Since the Make A Difference Trust was established in 2008 the theatre community have joined together with us to raise funds for those less fortunate than themselves.
“They have entertained us, made us laugh and cheer, sing and stamp our feet in evenings of pure joy. They have given their time, talent and love so generously to raise funds to support those in need. Now, it’s our turn to support them.
“Every penny received from this initiative will go directly to theatre professionals in the UK who are affected by the theatre closures as a result of this crisis. We will work tirelessly to ensure grants are paid swiftly, and directly to those in need.”
Created in 2015, A MAD Drag Night is the brainchild of actors David O’Reilly, Sean Parkins and David McMullan who came up with the original idea for a late-night cabaret show in aid of the Make A Difference trust while working on the hit Broadway and West End musical The Book Of Mormon.
The Make A Difference Trust has distributed over £1.6 million in grants to support individuals experiencing hardship across the UK. The trust has also provided over £2 million to support projects with UK and international partners to relieve poverty, provide a safe environment and education for children and orphans affected by HIV and AIDS.
Angela Thomas
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