Stephen Schwartz' CHILDREN OF EDEN Plays West End Benefit for Crohn's Disease, Jan. 29

The Biblical-inspired musical Children of Eden, by Stephen Schwartz and John Caird is to be revived in the West End for one night only in a spectacular star-studded charity gala at the Prince of Wales?Theatre on Sunday 29 January at 7pm.

Children of Eden will be performed by a company of 75, and will feature stars drawn from the West End and TV. The concert is being staged to raise awareness of the chronic and debilitating condition, Crohn’s disease and all proceeds will be donated to Crohn’s and Colitis UK.

Children of Eden had its world premiere at the Prince Edward Theatre on January 8, 1991. It’s a joyous and inspirational musical about parents, children and faith. Freely based on the story of Genesis, Children of Eden is a frank, heartfelt and often humorous examination of the age-old conflict between parents and children. The show delivers a bittersweet but inspiring message: that the hardest part of love is letting go.

Casting to date includes: Oliver Thornton, Anton Stephans, Emma Barton, Gareth Gates, Brenda Edwards, Lauren Samuels, Waylon Jacobs, John Wilding and Kerry Ellis.

Meredith Braun will be providing the entertainment for the VIP party in the Delfont Room following the concert.

Further casting will be announced soon.

The concert will be directed by Drew Baker. Musical Supervision and Direction by James Draisey, and Set and Lighting Design by Ben Rogers. Choreography by Lizzie Gee

Stephen Schwartz, born in New York, is best known for the music and lyrics for Wicked, Pippin and The Baker's Wife, and the score to Godspell. He collaborated with Leonard Bernstein on the English texts for Bernstein's Mass. For films, he collaborated with Alan Menken on the songs for Disney's Enchanted, as well as the animated features Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and wrote the songs for theDreamWorks animated feature The Prince of Egypt. He has won three Academy Awards and four Grammys.

John Caird, is an Honorary Associate Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, a regular guest director at The National Theatre and Principal Guest Director of the RoyalDramatic Theatre in Stockholm (Dramaten), and is best known for his adaptation and direction (with Trevor Nunn) of the original London production of Les Misérables.

The benefit is produced by Tony Green in association with Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment in aid of Crohn’s & Colitis UK.

For tickets and more information, call 0844 482 5116 or visit www.childrenofeden.co.uk.