World AIDS Day concert gets a little Wicked
Wicked star Lucy Durak has confirmed her place at this year’s Sydney World AIDS Day concert.
Durak, who plays Glinda in the Australian production of the smash-hit musical, will be among the cavalcade of stars celebrating the music of legendary composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim.
With several performers still to be confirmed, the all-star lineup also includes David Harris (Little Women, Miss Saigon) Geraldine Turner (Chicago, A Little Night Music, Into The Woods), Michael Cormick (City Homicide, Calamity, The Woman In White) Peter Cousens (Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, West Side Story) and Trevor Ashley (Hairspray, I’m Every Woman).
Playing for one night only on Monday, November 22, in the stunning Verbruggen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, the bill will also include Shaun and Adam Rennie, Queenie Van de Zandt, Laura Mulcahy, Avigail Herman, Tyran Parke and Phil Scott.
All performers will be backed by a live orchestra.
For the third year running, concert creator Trevor Ashley will direct the performers and Craig Renshaw will direct the music for the gala performance.
All performers and musicians are doing the show for free with all proceeds helping ACON provide essential health promotion services for people with HIV.
ACON events co-ordinator David Wilkins said the music of Stephen Sondheim is a natural choice for Sydney’s World AIDS Day concert.
“Stephen Sondheim is celebrating his 80th birthday this year and it seems only fitting that we should mark the occasion with an all-star tribute to this phenomenal artist,” he said.
“He is undoubtedly one of the most influential people in the history of musical theatre and his work has entertained millions of people all around the world for over 50 years.
“Sondheim’s wonderful music being performed by so many great entertainers and all backed by a live orchestra will produce a truly memorable show for people of all ages.”
info: The 2010 Sydney World AIDS Day Concert – An All-Star Tribute To Stephen Sondheim is on Monday, November 22 from 7:30pm at Verbruggen Hall, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Macquarie St, Sydney. Tickets are $65 each or $55 concession. Bookings at www.acon.org.au/WADconcert or phone (02) 9206 2062.
So this is the sum of it? To the thousands who lost their live to AIDS during the previous decades the day is now celebrated by ACON as an eighty year old man celebrates his birthday? What a complete waste of space ACON has become!
“In order to raise awareness on the global HIV/AIDS pandemic, the World Health Organization established World Aids Day in 1988. Observed on December 1st, it is a chance for organizations and individuals to “demonstrate international solidarity in the face of the pandemic.” According to 2008 data from the United Nations, approximately 33 million people around the world are living with HIV.
In Africa Kenya Inter-Religious Aids Consortium ( KIRAC) was proposed and formed in 2001 with a wide mandate to co- ordinate HIV and AIDS Prevention, Care and Education, FBO’s country top leadership meet and draw resolutions on Faith Based Communities engagement in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Kenya.
Top leadership of the faith community in Kenya met on 20th November 2003 at Karen. Nairobi under the umbrella of the Kenya Inter Religious AIDS consortium and came up with a number of resolutions as a show or commitment to jointly fight HIV/AIDS, KIRAC worked with FBOs on a campaign with the message “Be pure. Safe sex is never wrong.” And be faithful in your Marriage is a philanthropic foundation that hopes the campaign will change the perception of purity – that to remain pure, all it takes is protection. Several artists volunteered their talent for the project, creating art for T-shirts, print media, and animation.”
I’m very glad to be part of this selected group!!!
For more visit, http://www.kirac.or.ke