Author: madtrust

Robin Windsor – The Last Dance
One of Strictly’s favourite professional dancers…

STOP PRESS –  DANCERS AND PERFORMERS JOINING ROBIN NOW ANNOUNCED:

Alison Hammond
Deborah Meaden
Gaby Roslin
Chizzy Akudolu
Vincent Simone
Kerry Ellis
La Voix
Anna Kennedy (The People’s Strictly)
Rachel John (Hamilton)
Harriette mullen (Cilla)
Lisa Marie Holmes (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert)
Ricky Rojas (Moulin Rouge Broadway)
Rebecca lisewski (Tango Moderno
and more to come…

This autumn sees one of BBC Strictly Come Dancing’s favourite professionals, Robin Windsor, perform in his last ever production in London’s West End. Robin has decided to hang up his dancing shoes after a long and successful career,
and he can’t wait to flaunt his artistry for you one last time!

Robin will be joined by special guests from throughout his career (names to be announced).

As well as appearing on the hit T.V show for five years, the professional dancer has also performed all over the world in shows ‘Burn the Floor’, including on Broadway and the West End, ‘Keep Dancing’, and most recently ‘Dance to the Music’ with Kristina Rihanoff.

Expect lots of amazing dance routines, fun, cheeky chat and plenty of sparkles in this incredible action packed extravaganza that reflects Robin’s energetic personality! He will take you on a journey through his most memorable performances of his dance career with his team of professional dancers and special guests…so get ready!!

Robin’s last ever show is not to be missed…

VIP tickets available NOW via Gold VIP TICKETS button just below

Standard tickets available NOW – BOOK HERE

All profits on the evening will be raising funds for The Make A Difference Trust

 

GREAT NEWS:

Our World AIDS Day Annual Theatre Bucket Collection appeal was the first and original bucket collection appeal in the West End and 30-odd years later it still enables us to keep on doing what we do. The money raised will allow the Trust to continue working with our partners in the United Kingdom and Sub Saharan-Africa to provide education awareness, care and support for those living with or affected by HIV and AIDS.

£76,360 is the total raised for the 2017 appeal – there is more money from a couple of theatres still to be confirmed and banked, so watch this space for the final grand total!

Melanie Tranter, chair of the Make A Difference Trust said, “Once again we wish to say THANK YOU for the incredible generosity of the theatre-going public and all the additional effort put in by the wonderful theatre community supporting us. We could not do what we do without you.”

 

World AIDS Day is a day to reflect, remember & celebrate.

To help raise awareness of World AIDS Day and to raise funds MAD Trust has launched a pack of 13 animated photo filters for the Werble App which people can use across their social platforms to mark the day and help increase awareness, reflection, remembrance and celebration.

The World AIDS Day pack is Available now from the Apple App Store for 99p and all proceeds go to the Make a Difference Trust to fund HIV/AIDS projects in the UK and sub-Saharan Africa The Werble App is free on iOS:

Get the Free Werble App

These videos show more about Werble & the World AIDS Day Onboarding Flow For New Users

Excellent News: Thurs 3^rd August 2017:

 

• The London Theatre Direct lavish 18th Birthday Black Tie Charity Gala was held at the Café de Paris last night raising funds for TheatreMAD – The Make A Difference Trust!

• During the celebrations it was announced that London Theatre Direct have adopted TheatreMAD as their chosen charity!

• Furthermore London Theatre Direct donated a magnificent £10,000 to The Make A Difference Trust and £263.20 was raised on the night with a bucket collection!

• Theatre MAD – The Make A Difference Trust also announced that they are extending the ways we give back to the Community and the West End by offering our services as a hub for theatrical fundraising events. Read More

          @theatre_direct      @MADTrust      @CafedeParisLDN

The Make A Difference Trust to extend their charitable offer.

For over 25 years, the Make A Difference Trust has been supporting those living with HIV & AIDS. However, after careful consultation and consideration, the board of trustees has decided to extend our charitable offer in line with the object of The Trust, to relieve poverty suffering and to preserve health.

The Make A Difference Trust has produced some of the most spectacular and well known events in the West End.  West End Bares, West End Eurovision and West End Christmas are a few amongst the many sell-out shows that are made possible by the amazing theatre community. The Trust intends to share their experience, staff and facilities to support the theatre community when they wish to respond to emergencies and disasters, or to show support for one of their own in dire need.

The Chair, Melanie Tranter says:

“Over the many years of MAD fundraising, one thing has struck me time and time again: the incredible generosity and humanity of the theatre community. Over and over they give their precious time to help others.

When the recent tragedy happened in Manchester I was contacted to help arrange a minutes silence by those in our industry wishing to show support.

TheatreMAD has a long history of raising funds through our events and a wealth of expertise which we would like to share. Whilst we are and will always be a HIV & AIDS charity, we will now be extending our offer so that we can share all this experience with theatre community. Should someone wish to put on a benefit for Manchester, or Grenfell Tower for example, or indeed to support a friend in the industry who finds themselves in dire need, we will be able to offer all our knowledge and resources to support their event.

Community has always been the key to MAD. Under the TheatreMAD banner and with support from our office we can come together as a community to make an event happen and make a difference to those in need.”

For further information please email: office@madtrust.org.uk

STOP PRESS:

TheatreMAD Make A Difference Trust today announced that its 2016 World AIDS Day bucket collection at West End theatres raised a record £93,359.29. The stars of this year’s collection were The Book Of Mormon which raised a staggering £21,323.00 Disney’s Aladdin followed with £10,276.00 The Royal Shakespeare Company raised £7,201.00 Disney’s The Lion King were next with £5,896.00 and Les Miserables completed the top five with £5,814.00

Melanie Tranter, chair of the Make A Difference Trust said, “Thanks to the incredible generosity of the theatre going public and the hard work of the wonderful theatre community we had a record year.”

The money raised will allow the Trust to continue working with our partners in the United Kingdom and Sub Saharan-Africa to provide education awareness, care and support for those living with or affected by HIV and AIDS.

Today marks World AIDS Day. We have come a long way over the last few decades to improve the lives of people living with HIV through improved medicines and care. However, there is still a long way to go. Too many people continue to be diagnosed late, do not have equitable access to medicines and continue to experience stigma and discrimination. We have the medicines, we have the capabilities to end HIV/AIDS so we must continue to work together to ensure we reach this achievable goal.

If you would like to donate today please donate via our bucket collections tonight across the West End or visit our Ways To Give page.

 

HOT NEWS FROM THE DANCE FLOOR: Meet the West End stars joining original Broadway cast members Jennifer Simard and show creator Seth Rudetsky in DISASTER! DISASTER! the Broadway musical comedy spoof of star-studded 1970s jeopardy movies like The Poseidon Adventure, Earthquake and Airport, will premiere in London for two glittering gala concert charity performances to raise funds for The Make a Difference Trust at Charing Cross Theatre on Sunday 20 November. “It’s 1979 and New York’s hottest A-listers are lining up for the opening of a floating casino and discotheque. But what begins as a night of boogie fever quickly changes to panic as the ship succumbs to multiple disasters, such as earthquakes, tidal waves and infernos. As the night turns into day, everyone struggles to survive and, quite possibly, repair the love they’ve lost…or at least escape the killer rats! Set in the wildest decade ever, DISASTER! is packed with unforgettable 70s dance oor hits including “I Will Survive”, “Knock On Wood,” “Hooked On A Feeling,” “Sky High,” “I Am Woman” and “Hot Stuff”.

Jennifer Simard is recreating her Tony-nominated role as gambling-addicted nun, Sister Mary Downy.

Seth Rudetsky is once again playing Ted Scheider, the professor and “disaster expert” who tries to warn the others of the impending doom.

The British cast are: Oliver Tompsett (Chad, a ladies man still carrying a torch for his ex-fiance). Oliver has just played Sky Masterson in Guys & Dolls at the Phoenix Theatre. His other West End starring roles include Galileo in We Will Rock You, Fiyero in Wicked and Drew Boley in Rock of Ages.

Sally Ann Triplett (Shirley, a big-hearted loudmouth…with a secret) last starred on Broadway in Sting’s The Last Ship. Her West End starring roles include Donna in Mamma Mia, Lauren in Viva Forever, Miss Adelaide in Guys & Dolls, Berta in Acorn Antiques, Roxy Hart in Chicago, Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes.

Jodie Jacobs (Jackie, a sexy lounge singer desperate to and a father for her twins) played Regina in Rock of Ages (2011 BroadwayWorld.com Award). She is currently starring in “27”, directed by Arlene Phillips. Her recent roles include Nancy in Oliver! at Grange Park Opera, Miss Gardner in Carrie and Paulette Bonafonte in Legally Blonde.

Alice Fearn (Marianne, a reporter who’s sworn off men) joined the 10th Anniversary cast of Wicked at Apollo Victoria Theatre last month as the standby Elphaba. She was Rapunzel in Into the Woods at Regent’s Park Theatre. Her other major musicals include Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Shrek the Musical, Annie Get Your Gun, Les Misérables and The Woman in White.

Sandra Marvin (Levora, a faded disco diva hoping to win big in the casino) is currently playing Rose in the pre-West End tour of Stepping Out. She was Queenie in Daniel Evans’ Showboat. Her other major shows include City of Angels (Donmar), Miss Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray and Mama Morton in Chicago.

Bradley Riches (Ben & Lisa, Jackie’s constantly fighting twins) is a pupil of the British Theatre Academy. He recently co-starred in Godspell with Ramin Karimloo and Kerry Ellis. His other roles include Rooster in AnnieJr at the Arts Theatre, The Artful Dodger in Oliver! at Minack Theatre, and Elegies at Charing Cross Theatre. More major roles will be announced soon!

Seth Rudetsky said: “Director Jack Plotnick and I are so thrilled with this cast! I had Sally Ann on my radio show last night and simply loved her. So warm, such a great voice, such a big belter and a tapper, too! Is there such a thing as a quadruple threat? We are so lucky to have Oliver who blew us away when he watched him on YouTube. I now want to add more high notes to the score! Jodie came so highly recommended by my friend Shoshana Bean and after watching her sing “Take Me for What I Am “ with Caissie Levy, I knew she had the voice and the comedy skills for Disaster! The character of Levora is a diva who’s 98% a selfish nightmare. Yes, Sandra will be able to bring down the house on those disco songs, but, more importantly, she’s able to play a “rhymes-with-witch,” but, because she’s so likeable, still make the audience root for her. I worked with dresser-to-the-West-End-stars Murray Lane when I did my show with Patti LuPone in London a few years ago. I described the character of Marianne to him and he immediately recommended Alice Fearn. Boy, was he right! I called her, described the role and when I told her she had a drunk scene, she was in! And, finally, British Theatre Academy Director Matthew Chandler saw Disaster! on Broadway and told me he thought that if it ever came to London, he had the perfect kid. Bradley Riches Skyped with me over the weekend. OMG. Not only was he hilarious and used his own prop wig when he switched back and forth between Ben and Lisa, he blew me away with his voice. When he started singing his big act Two song Michael Jackson’s “Ben” I was happy/impressed/awestruck that I got tears in my eyes!”

“Deliriously giddy! Inspired lunacy. A triumph! It’s irresistible!” Critics Choice, The New York Times

THANK YOU – to our Runners in the Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon 9th Oct 2016

We want to say a massive thank you to our four runners, Jeremy Ellis, David McMullan, John Forni & Harry Francis,  who all completed the Royal Parks Half Marathon to raise funds for the Make A Difference Trust. The sum raised so far is over £3493.17.

You are amazing people and we are very grateful for your support. Congratulations on your success!

Thanks again for your hard work and fantastic fundraising,

Melanie Tranter
Chair, The Make A Difference Trust

If anyone would still like to sponsor any of the runners now that they have completed the challenge you can still do so by clicking on their names below:

Jeremy Ellis

David McMullan

Dr John Forni

Harry Francis

 

www.standard.co.uk/news/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DISASTER! the Broadway musical comedy spoof of star-studded 1970s jeopardy movies like The Poseidon Adventure, Earthquake and Airport, is to premiere in London for two glittering gala concert charity performances to raise funds for The Make a Difference Trust at Charing Cross Theatre on Sunday 20 November.