Celebrating the greatest hits of five decades of Divas from Beyoncé to Bassey, Respect La Diva is an uplifting musical celebration paying tribute to some of the greatest female singers of all time. Hosted by X-Factor finalist Andy Abraham and headlined by singers Sheila Ferguson (The Three Degrees), Denise Pearson (Five Star), Katy Setterfield (The One & Only) and Zoe Birkett (West End/Pop Idol), alongside a cast of West End singers, dancers and a live band, Respect La Diva showcases songs by iconic Divas including Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Etta James, Shirley Bassey, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Dusty Springfield and many more.

Respect La Diva is designed by Jonathan Park, with lighting by Paul Moorhouse, sound by Phillip Cluskey with assistant direction/choreography by Racky Plews and is produced and directed by Adrian Grant for Baronet Entertainment.

Respect La Diva is a show with a social message that aims to raise awareness of domestic violence and abuse against women and children. The production is therefore proud to be supporting the national charity Refuge.*

Sandra Horley CBE, chief executive of Refuge, says: “Respect La Diva is a show about strong and inspirational women. Every day Refuge supports women and children whose lives have been shattered by domestic violence. But despite enduring months or even years of violence and control, abused women and children are resilient, courageous and determined to rebuild their lives. They are inspirational. I can think of no better tribute to the 80,000 women and children Refuge supports every year than the positive, empowering message of Respect La Diva. We are proud and grateful to receive their support.”

Andy Abraham is most recognised for winning second place in 2005’s X-Factor. This led to Abraham’s involvement in three national tours, X Factor Arena 2006, Unforgettable Tour 2006 and An Evening With… in 2008. He has released three albums, Impossible Dream and Soul Man in 2006 and Even If in 2008. Andy represented the UK in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest and the following year he went on a sell out 54 date national tour.

Sheila Ferguson was the lead singer in the hit 1970’s group The Three Degrees, who had over seventeen chart hits including When Will I See You Again, Take Good Care Of Yourself and A Woman In Love. Her most recent album is New Kind of Medicine. Ferguson’s previous stage credits include Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Shaftesbury Theatre, Soul Train at the Victoria Palace Theatre and Oh What A Night!, which toured internationally. In 2010 she headlined on the Irish tour of Fame.

Denise Pearson is an award-winning performer, renowned for being the lead singer in the 1980’s pop group Five Star with hits such as System Addict, The Slightest Touch and Rain or Shine. Five Star were the youngest British group to have a number one album and receive seven consecutive hit singles from one album in the UK. Denise’s stage credits include Thriller Live in the West End and on tour and in 2009 she released her debut solo single, Here I Am.

After touring with the show That’ll Be The Day, Katy Setterfield joined the BBC1 show The One And Only, winning in 2008 with her renditions of Cher and Dusty Springfield’s renowned hits, leading to a three month run in Legends In Concert in Las Vegas. Katy subsequently recorded a compilation album entitled You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me – The Songs of Dusty and went on a 50 date national tour. Since 2009 Katy has toured in her own show, Katy Setterfield – Dusty And Friends and earlier this year she joined the original Springfields in a tribute show to Dusty at the Royal Albert Hall.

Zoe Birkett first came to national attention in 2002’s Pop Idol, which she followed with two national tours and a group album, Pop Idol Big Band, which reached number one in the album chart and went triple platinum within a year. Her recent stage credits include playing one of the Divas in the original London cast of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical, principal singer in What A Feeling at the Palladium and lead female in Thriller Live at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Ave. Birkett’s screen credits include I Dream for BBC1 and most recently ITV’s Sing If You Can.

Adrian Grant’s first theatre production was Thriller Live, which first previewed in 2006 at the Dominion Theatre, before several nationwide and European tours, and a successful run at the Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Ave, where it continues to play. Adrian has managed music artists for over fifteen years, runs a record label, and is an established writer and publisher with numerous magazine and book credits including Michael Jackson – The Visual Documentary.

Racky Plews is director and choreographer in residence Upstairs at the Gatehouse where credits include; A Slice of Saturday Night, The Drowsy Chaperone, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story, Into The Woods and Side by Side by Sondheim, The Hot Mikado and Talent. Further choreography credits include The Tender Land at the Arcola, and the 48 hour showtime challenge in the West End – with credits including The Boy Friend at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Haymarket and Crazy For You and Me & My Girl at the Palladium. Racky is also a founder member of Triptic Productions.

*Respect La Diva and Refuge have set up a special mobile text donation line where you text the code DIVA40 to 70070 and pledge an amount of up to £10 e.g. ‘DIVA40 £10’. The text is free to send and the donation will be added to standard phone bills.

Release issued by: Emma Holland PR

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Book tickets to Thriller Live at the Lyric Theatre in London

Celebrate winter with our great new hotel and theatre promotion, with blockbuster shows including Love Never Dies, Legally Blonde, Priscilla, Jersey Boys and Billy Elliot.

Westendtheatre.com has partnered with 18 top London shows and a range of Central London hotels to offers visitors to the city a fabulous winter treat.

Running until the end of March 2011, you can book a free room in a central London hotel when buying a top-price theatre ticket to one of a selection of shows.

Prices start at just £45 ($70 USD / €55 Euros) per person for a three star hotel, continental breakfast and a best seat to a major West End show, based on two people sharing.

An amazing selection of big-budget West End musicals are featured in the promotion including: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sequel to the Phantom of the Opera – Love Never Dies; Legally Blonde, based on the smash-hit movie; Tony award-winning Elton John musical Billy Elliot; a new musical adaptation of Love Story; fabulous, spectacular show Priscilla Queen of the Desert; Jersey Boys featuring the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons; Dirty Dancing; sexy, sassy Kander and Ebb show Chicago; joyous 1960s musical Dreamboats and Petticoats; Grease The Musical; Willy Russell’s powerful musical Blood Brothers; theatre, dance and percussion show Stomp; and Michael Jackson tribute show Thriller Live.

Comedy and drama included in the promotion ranges from a riotously funny adaptation of The 39 Steps, to Samantha Bond in Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband, terrifying thriller The Woman in Black, and classic comedy When We Are Married.

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See all shows in the promotion and book now

Terms and conditions of the promotion:

Prices are per person and based on two people sharing a twin or double room in one of our chosen Central London 3* hotels. Valid for select performances and subject to availability. Once booked, the package is non transferable and cannot be exchanged or refunded. All prices include VAT and all other transaction and booking fees. Selected shows are subject to a £5 supplement. For full terms and conditions visit www.westendtheatre.com/theatre-breaks

Book tickets to Thriller Live
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Thriller Live at the Lyric Theatre

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Thriller Live is a stage and video spectacular celebrating the legendary career of the king of pop – Michael Jackson.

Featuring over 20 performers with a full company of singers, dancers and a live band, the show celebrates the music of Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5.

To bring to life on stage the distinctive dancing and sound of many of pop’s greatest hits, Thriller Live includes eye-popping video footage and special effects together with choreography by the show’s award-winning director Gary Lloyd (who has previously worked with Leona Lewis, Will Young, Gareth Gates, Emma Bunton, Robbie Williams, Pink, Anastacia, Lemar; Rachel Stevens, Kelly Clarkson and Girls Aloud) and additional choreography by five-time MTV award-winning LaVelle Smith Jnr and Kerys Nathan.

Thriller Live at the Lyric theatre features over two hours of hit songs including I Want You Back, I’ll Be There, Show You The Way To Go, Can You Feel It, Rock With You, She’s Out Of My Life, Thriller, Beat It, Ben, ABC, Man In The Mirror, Dirty Diana, Billie Jean, Earth Song and many more.

Save £20 on tickets to see the ultimate Michael Jackson celebration THRILLER LIVE at the Lyric Theatre in London

View VIDEOS of West End Live 2010

West End Live, a free event held in the West End this weekend, showcased the best of London theatre and attracted over a quarter of a million people.

Now in its sixth year and the largest free theatre festival in the world, the event featured the casts of some of London’s biggest shows including Thriller Live, Disney’s The Lion King, Legally Blonde, All The Fun Of The Fair, Tap Dogs, We Will Rock You, Billy Elliot, Wicked, Hair, Chicago, Love Never Dies, Avenue Q, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Burn the Floor, Grease, Mamma Mia!, Stomp, Dirty Dancing and Jersey Boys.

An array of West End stars performed at the event including Ramin Karimloo (Love Never Dies), Sheridan Smith (Legally Blonde), Patina Miller (Sister Act), Daniel Boys (Wolfboy) and Ryan Molloy (Jersey Boys).

Councillor Robert Davis of Westminster City Council, who organised the event, said: “Without doubt, this has been our biggest and best West End LIVE. We’ve seen spectacular performances from some of the nation’s favourite shows.”

Nica Burns, President of the Society of London Theatre said: “London has the best theatre in the world and West End LIVE is a fantastic opportunity for people to sample some of the West End’s most popular shows for free.” The success of the past weekend suggests that a quarter of a million satisfied theatre fans agree.

View VIDEOS of West End Live 2010

Thriller Live at the Lyric Theatre in London

The Lyric Theatre, where Michael Jackson tribute musical Thriller Live has been playing since May 2009, will feature the plaque, to be unveiled on 24 June 2010, the eve of the first anniversary of the singer’s death.

Diversity, winners of the third series of TV talent show Britain’s Got Talent and stars of UK film StreetDance 3D, will attend the ceremony along with the cast of the musical.

Michael Jackson died on 25 June 2009 in Los Angeles before he was due to begin a 50-date residency at London’s O2 Arena.

Thriller Live is presented by Flying Music and Adrian Grant and is a stage and video spectacular celebrating the legendary career of the king of pop and The Jackson 5, and features over 20 performers, with a full company of singers, dancers and a live band.

Special offer: Save £22 on tickets to Thriller Live at the Lyric Theatre in London

West End Live will feature the casts of some of London’s biggest shows, performing at a free event this weekend in Leicester Square. On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 June 2010, hundreds of West End performers will gather to showcase the best of London theatre. Careful juggling by the organisers has enabled the casts of over 25 shows to appear live on a stage in Leicester Square in between performing their matinee and evening performances.

Download and print the West End Live timetable of events.

The line-up for the celebration has now been confirmed, with Brazil! Brazil! launching the weekend at 11am on Saturday.

Shows which have agreed to participate in the family event include Thriller Live, Disney’s The Lion King, Legally Blonde, All The Fun Of The Fair, Tap Dogs, We Will Rock You, Billy Elliot, Wicked, Hair, Chicago, Love Never Dies, Avenue Q, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Burn the Floor, Grease, Mamma Mia!, Stomp, Dirty Dancing and Jersey Boys.

West End stars will be out in force to entertain audiences at the event,  including Daniel Boys (Wolfboy), who will be hosting proceedings from 12 noon to 6pm on Sunday 20 June, Sheridan Smith (Legally Blonde), Kerry Ellis (Oliver!), Patina Miller (Sister Act) and Hannah Waddingham (Into The Woods).

Saturday’s full line up* is as follows: 11.00am Brazil! Brazil!; 11.15am Dirty Dancing; 11.25am Burn the Floor; 11.35am Wicked; 11.45am We Will Rock You; 12.05pm Billy Elliot; 12.15pm Love Never Dies; 12.30pm Chicago; 12.45pm HAIR; 13.05pm Jersey Boys; 13.25pm Sweet Charity; 13.35pm Grease; 13.50pm Mamma Mia!; 14.00pm Sister Act; 14.10pm Thriller Live; 14.30pm Julie Atherton; 14.40pm Avenue Q; 15.00pm Into the Woods; 15.20pm Fireman Sam; 15.30pm Sylvia Young Theatre School; 15.50pm Burn the Floor; 16:00pm The Big Dance; 16:20pm London Gay Men’s Chorus; 16:35pm Burn The Floor; 16.45pm The Gleeks; 17.10pm Royal Albert Hall; 17.35pm All the Fun of the Fair; 17.45pm STOMP.

On Sunday* there’s more theatrical thrills and spills with: 12.00pm Tap Dogs; 12.15pm Stomp; 12.30pm Thriller Live; 12.55pm Jersey Boys; 13.10pm Priscilla Queen of the Deasert; 13.25pm Legally Blonde; 13.35pm Disney’s The Lion King; 13.50pm Mamma Mia!; 14.00pm West End Kids; 14.15pm Daniel Boys; 14.30pm National Youth Music Theatre; 14.45pm Into the Woods; 15.10pm Mark Jermin Stage School; 15.30pm Fireman Sam; 15.45pm Jack Day; 16.00pm T Mobile Big Dance; 16.20pm West End Gospel Choir; 16.40pm Burn the Floor; 16.50pm SOLT competition; 17.00pm 1916 the Musical; 17.15pm Burn the Floor; 17.25pm Dover Street.

* Timetable and acts subject to change – check West End Live site for details.

To get the party started early, the cast of Wicked will also be performing on Friday 18 June 2010 at Cardinal Place, Victoria between 12.30 and 1pm for a pre West End LIVE performance.

The weekend event will feature exhibits and activities including the London Film Museum, Science Museum, V&A Museum, Little Angel Puppet theatre and Forbidden Planet.

Over a quarter of a million people attended last year’s event in Leicester Square.  Running in a variety of formats for a number of years, including the Society of London Theatre’s Fair in the Square events in the 1990s, this year’s two-day event is organised by Westminster City Council.

Saturday 19 June, 11am-6pm and Sunday 20 June, 12noon to 6pm in Leicester Square.

Download and print the West End Live timetable of events.

LINKS: West End Live website

West End Live is a weekend of free entertainment on 19 and 20 June that promises to showcase the best of London’s Theatreland.

Running in a variety of formats for a number of years, including the Society of London Theatre’s Fair in the Square events in the 1990s, this year’s two-day event initiated by Westminster City Council will see 23 shows perform on a stage in Leicester Square.

Shows which have agreed to participate in the family event include Thriller Live, The Lion King, Legally Blonde, All The Fun Of The Fair, Tap Dogs, We Will Rock You, Billy Elliot, Wicked, Hair, Chicago, Love Never Dies, Avenue Q, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, Burn the Floor, Grease, Mamma Mia!, Stomp, Dirty Dancing, The Fantasticks and Jersey Boys.

West End stars will be out in force to entertain audiences at the event,  including Sheridan Smith (Legally Blonde), Kerry Ellis (Oliver!), Patina Miller (Sister Act) and Hannah Waddingham (Into The Woods). More stars are expected to be announced shortly.

Last year’s event attracted around 250,000 people.

Saturday 19 June, 11am-6pm and Sunday 20 June, 12noon to 6pm in Leicester Square.

LINKS: West End Live website

A number of West End shows are now playing on a Sunday, with much of the centre of London open for shopping, eating and entertainment all weekend.

Shows playing on a Sunday include Thriller Live at the Lyric Theatre; Stomp at the Ambassadors Theatre; The Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre; selected plays at the National Theatre; terrifying Ghost Stories at the Duke of York’s Theatre and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s multi-million pound production of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium.

SEE A COMPLETE LIST OF SHOWS WITH SUNDAY PERFORMANCES HERE