Miss Saigon star Eva Noblezada will open the ninth edition of burlesque-flavoured fundraiser West End Bares when it takes to the stage at the Shaftesbury Theatre this autumn.
Fresh from her Tony Award-nominated Broadway debut Noblezada will be singing a new song written for the occasion by the returning Mark Anderson and Luke di Somma at the start of the show which will this year be entitled West End Bares: Top Off The Pops.
Announcing her involvement in this year’s Top of the Pops-inspired event, Noblezada said: “I am so damn excited for West End Bares: Top Off The Pops for MAD Trust. I had fun the first time I was a part of it in 2014 but I was such a baby. I want to bring my own fire to it now that I didn’t have back then. I cannot wait to get on that stage and perform with everyone.
“This year is something completely different too. It’s gonna blow the roof off the theatre, and we’re going to be performing with a live band, with more flesh than ever before. We’re making something pretty special for the opening with a few surprises that I’ve been sworn to secrecy about but you really don’t want to miss it, see you there!”
Following on from two years of sold out shows at the Novello Theatre, the fundraiser that combines the risqué entertainment of traditional burlesque with the crowd-pleasing glitz of a West End smash will play two shows at its new home on Sunday 28 October 2018.
Based on the original concept Broadway Bares by legendary Broadway and West End director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell who launched the event in New York to raise funds for Broadway Care/Equity Fights Aids, West Een Bares is staged in aid of the Make A Difference Trust, a UK based charity involved in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
Commenting on this year’s event Mitchell said: “Music gets everybody in the mood and I can’t wait for the West End to turn it up and rock out for Bares in London this year with the sexiest tracks and the sexiest dancers. I never thought that what we started in Splash in New York in 1992 would be fast approaching its 10th birthday in London next year – FULLOUT! What we do together really does make a difference so get your tickets and get ready to party!”
For the fourth year in a row, West End Bares will be directed by David Grewcock with choreography from Tommy Wade-Smith (Book of Mormon, We Will Rock You), Racky Plews (American Idiot, Footloose, Knights of the Rose), Chris Whittaker (Seussical, Top Hat), Matt Overfield (Motown the Musical, Tommy), Callum Aylott (Dreamgirls, West Side Story), Matt Krazn (Chicago, Cats), Will Lucas (Wicked, Cats) and Joanna Goodwin (Sunset Boulevard, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) with more to be announced.
Last year’s sold-out performances, hosted by Graham Norton, raised £57,633 and featured performances by Olivier Award winner Rebecca Trehearn and Marisha Wallace from Dreamgirls along with special guest hosts Summer Strallen, Adam Garcia, Dianne Pilkington, Tom Allen, Mark Gatiss, Ian Hallard, Celinde Schoenmaker and Oliver Savile.
Previous celebrity supporters have included Eddie Izzard, Judi Dench, Michelle Visage, Samantha Bond, John Barrowman, Ramin Karimloo, Bianca Del Rio, Joe Lycett and Beverley Knight.
Angela Thomas
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