Casts of WICKED, STRICTLY BALLROOM and More to Perform at 2014 Rob Guest Endowment Concert, Oct 13

The final line up of guest artists performing at the 2014 Rob Guest Endowment Award Concert, presented by ANZ has today been announced with tickets on sale now via Ticketmaster.

Audiences at the Concert, which is supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, will be treated to a performance by Kirby Burgess, who will play the lead role of Frances "Baby" Houseman in the national tour of Dirty Dancing, and by the supremely talented Bobby Fox (Jersey Boys), recently cast as Mickey in next year's Blood Brothers. The winner of the 2013 Rob Guest Endowment, Samantha Leigh Dodemaide, will also perform.

Fresh from a successful season at Sydney's Hayes Theatre, the cast of The Tap Pack (Jesse Rasmussen, Jordan Pollard and Thomas J. Egan) will perform a number from their old school meets new school song and dance showcase.

Paying homage to the Mad Men era is a performance by the cast of Swing on This, a new show that debuted at this year's Adelaide Cabaret Festival that combines the musical talents of four of Australia's best and brightest leading men - Michael Falzon (We Will Rock You), Matt Lee (Mary Poppins), Luke Kennedy (The Voice) and Ben Mingay (An Officer and a Gentleman).

Completing the line-up is a spellbinding performance by the thrillifying cast of Wicked, and a performance by the cast of Strictly Ballroom The Musical. The Concert will be hosted by Bert Newton with Lucy Durack.

The Guest Artists will perform alongside the six chosen finalists at a Gala Concert on Monday 13 October at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney, where the judging panel, consisting of Todd McKenney, Nancye Hayes and Guy Simpson, will announce the winner of the 2014 Rob Guest Endowment Award.

The six outstanding finalists are Ben Bennett (2013 Rob Guest Endowment Semi-finals Encouragement Award), Andrew Cook (Strictly Ballroom The Musical), Joshua Robson (Les Miserables), Angela Scundi (The Rocky Horror Show), Monica Swayne (Wicked) and Karla Tonkich (Grease).

Now in its 6th year, the 2014 Rob Guest Endowment Award Concert is a highlight of the Australian musical theatre calendar, and will this year see the winner take home $20,000, with runners up each taking home $1,500. The prize is intended to help a current artist in the musical theatre genre gain the performance experience, guidance and public image to help them become a leading artist in the Australian musical theatre industry.

This year also sees the introduction of two exciting new categories recognising further excellence in the field of musical theatre. The Rob Guest Endowment Technical Award in Honour of Sue Nattrass is a $10,000 cash prize intended to help a current member in a technical department of musical theatre fund the tuition and experience needed to help them become a leader in their field. The Rob Guest Endowment Musician Award, also a $10,000 cash prize, is intended to similarly help a current musician in the musical theatre genre. Both these awards are fully funded by Capitol Theatre and Sydney Lyric.

Tickets for this year's Gala Concert are on sale now via Ticketmaster. Visit www.robguestendowment.com.au for more information.

ROB GUEST ENDOWMENT GALA CONCERT - BOOKING DETAILS:

Venue Capitol Theatre, Sydney

Date 13 October 2014

Performance Time 7:30pm

Price $59.00 - $120.00

Bookings www.ticketmaster.com.au or 1300 558 878

*An additional transaction fee and/or a credit/debit payment processing fee may apply

The late Rob Guest had a career that spanned over 40 years, making him a much loved Musical Theatre star and a household name to audiences throughout Australia, New Zealand and overseas. Perhaps best known for his role as the Phantom of the Opera, he appeared and starred in over 40 productions including Les Miserables , Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease, Jolson, Sound of Music and WICKED. Less well known to audiences was his role as mentor and adviser to many young performers he worked with over the years, helping them through rough spots and guiding them in their career development. Following his sudden and unexpected death in 2008 while performing the role of the Wizard of Oz in WICKED, the ANZ Trustees Foundation: Rob Guest Endowment was set up as a tribute to this outstanding performer, to continue his work in nurturing and progressing young developing talent in the Musical Theatre industry.

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