NEW YORK —April 24 is drawing near — the first combined Behind the Scenes and Light Relief By Design Day. It will be a day where LDs on both sides of the Atlantic are donating their royalties to the two charities. The event’s organizers are applauding the LDs and others who have stepped up, including those responsible for 40 international shows.
The BTS/LRBD Day co-sponsors are Rick Fisher, Ken Billington and Ken Posner. Also donating royalties for the day are Neil Austin, who is donating his royalties from the Frost/Nixon US tour; Mike Baldassari with Beauty and the Beast (Barcelona and Moscow), Neil Young, Chrome Dreams (North American Tour); Jon Clark, Three Days of Rain; Paule Constable, Oliver, War Horse; Chris Davey, Measure for Measure tour; Howard Harrison, all productions of Mamma Mia! and Mary Poppins; Don Holder, Lion King and others; David Howe, Singing in the Rain, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Little Shop of Horrors UK tours, Rocky Horror Picture Show European tour and The Norman Conquests (NYC); Natasha Katz, Sister Act; Tim Mascal, Derren Brown, Stones in his Pocket (tours); Matthew McCarthy for Blue Man Group, New York, Chicago and Boston; Paul Miller for tours of Hairspray, Legally Blonde, Rent and Sweeney Todd; Brian Monahan, Drowsy Chaperone (tour); Peter Mumford, View from the Bridge, Carousel; Peter Nigrini, 9 to 5 The Musical; Paul Pyant, Waiting For Godot tour; Enjoy; Nick Richings, La Cage Aux Folles; Malcolm Rippeth, Calendar Girls, Brief Encounter, His Dark Materials tours; Nick Schlieper, Priscilla Queen of The Desert; Kevin Sleep, Woman in Black; Hugh Vanstone, Boeing Boeing, God of Carnage UK tours, God of Carnage, Shrek, Mary Stuart (all NYC); Willie Williams, We will Rock You; James Whiteside, Never Forget: and Ann Wrightson for August: Osage County (Broadway).
Rick Fisher, who instigated Light Relief Day in 2007 in honor of the late Tony Gottelier, co-founder of Light Relief, said: “The link with Behind The Scenes has given the day a much higher profile and as a result a we have a record number of designers joining in the fund raising. Anyone who has links with the industry is welcome to join us, including rental companies and other suppliers.”
The event organizers note that today, more than ever, there are people in our industry who have the added burden of serious injury or illness and who turn to Behind The Scenes or Light Relief for support.
For more information, please visit www.estafoundation.org/bts or www.lightrelief.org.uk.
