An evening of performances in celebration of director and choreographer Gillian Lynne DBE, who died last year, will launch a foundation to providing scholarships and grants for young performers in the choreographic arts, drama and musical theatre.
A year and a day after Lynne's death, To Gillie, With Love will feature Anthony Barclay, Christopher Biggins, Sierra Boggess, Greg Castiglioni, Lorna Dallas, Ben Forster, Anna Francolini, Jason Gardiner, Nickolas Grace, Linzi Hateley, Michael Howe, Ramin Karimloo, Hannah Kenna Thomas, Jeremy Kerridge, Beverley Knight, Peter Land, Emily Langham, Annabel Leventon, Iain Mackay, Robert Meadmore, New Adventures Company, Caroline O’Connor, Jonjo O’Neil, Richard O’Brien, Sergei Polunin, Stuart Matthew Price, Hugh Quarshie, Jack Rebaldi, Liz Robertson, Sir Ken Robinson, Tamara Rojo, Jamie Safir, Wayne Sleep, Scarlett Strallen, Una Stubbs and Hannah Waddingham. There will also be a choir with students from Arts Ed and the Royal Academy of Music.
The evening will launch the Lynne and Land Foundation, which Gillian and her husband Peter Land established to provide scholarships and grants for young performers in the choreographic arts, drama and musical theatre.
Land said, “two years before my wife passed away, we discussed the Foundation and she insisted on having it in both of our names. We both benefitted hugely in our careers from the kindness of others and that is what we want to do with the Foundation: to be the help that Gillian Lynne was to so many performers throughout her career. I remember the actor George Baker being wonderfully generous to me and Gillian always said that the support she got from Noël Coward, personally and professionally kept her going when times were tough.”
The evening will be curated and produced by Peter Land and Lean Two Productions and directed and staged by Chrissie Cartwright, Lynne’s long-time collaborator on Cats, with musical direction by Peter McCarthy, scenic design by Matthew Kinley, lighting design by Michael Robertson and sound design by Adam Fisher.
To Gillie, With Love will take place on Tuesday 2 July 2019 at The Gillian Lynne Theatre, Drury Lane, London. Tickets will go on sale on Friday 26 April with all proceeds going to the Lynne and Land Foundation.