Camping it up for a cause

The star-studded Hats Off! fundraising concert returns for 2011 this coming Monday, hosted by Bob Downe and with a litany of music and theatre names paying tribute to this year’s theme, Camp Is The Word.

“There’ll be amazing cabaret and theatre performers, fabulous drag numbers from multi-DIVA award-winning queens, and we’ve confirmed John Paul Young will sing Love is in the Air, which will be camp, camp, camp!” co-producer (alongside Jonathan Mill) Laurence Stark said.

“Every number’s going to have an element of campness to it.”

Stars such as David Campbell, Queenie van der Zandt, Garry Scale, iOTA and Shauna Jensen will take to the stage during the show, backed by a 24-piece orchestra and 18 backing vocalists and with Director Stuart Maunder and Musical Director Anne Maree McDonald at the helm. Drag fans can look forward to Amelia Airhead reprising her memorable feather routine from the Sydney Opera House’s Drag XXXmas shows.

Stark nominated an appearance by Amanda Harrison as one of his own personal highlights of the concert. Harrison was the original Elphaba in the Australian production of Wicked before bowing out more than a year ago due to vocal problems.

“She’s finally got her voice back, so it’s going to be wonderful to hear her sing again. She’s just so talented.”

The event is a joint fundraiser for ACON and the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation. For the first time, organisers have been able to offer cheaper side seats, meaning you can see the show for as little as $25. Last year’s event was a sell-out, so get in quick.

info: Hats Off!, York Theatre, Seymour Centre, 8pm, February 21.
Visit www.seymourcentre.com