Heather Headley and More Perform at THE NIGHT OF 1,000 STARS Gala Tonight

Heather Headley, star of The Bodyguard at the West End's Adelphi Theatre, will sing two songs from Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along at The Night of 1,000 Stars gala at Royal Albert Hall, tonight, May 5, in celebration of Hal Prince. Denise Van Outen will also perform, and the evening will be hosted by Alan Titchmarsh.

The Night of 1,000 Stars, the annual, star-studded event celebrating musical theatre at the Royal Albert Hall, will be in support of cancer charity The Caron Keating Foundation.

Tony and Grammy award-winning Heather Headley is making her West End stage debut as Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard. Having originated the role of Nala in The Lion King on Broadway, Headley went on to play the title role in Aida for which she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Her debut solo album, This is Who I Am, was nominated for two Grammy Awards. Her third studio album, Audience of One, won the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album. In recent years she has worked extensively with Andrea Bocelli on his American and international tours and sung at the inauguration of President Barack Obama in 2008.

The Night of 1000 Stars, and its sister event The Night of 1000 Voices, has delighted capacity audiences at the Royal Albert Hall since 1999 and has annually raised thousands of pounds for UK-based charities. On Spring Bank Holiday, Sunday May 5, 2013, the international star performers and VIP Guests, the West End Chorus, Stephen Disley (organ) and The City of London Philharmonic will perform a musicals' night to remember.

In 2013, The Night of 1000 Stars will celebrate music from the productions of Harold (Hal) Prince including songs from West Side Story, Evita, The Phantom of the Opera, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, A Little Night Music, Sweeney Todd, Follies, Cabaretand Parade.

These are just a few of the great shows to be given The Night of 1000 Stars treatment, together with a sprinkling of some that may not be quite so well known

The West End's distinguished maestros, David Firman and Stuart Morley, will once again supervise the massed musical forces and director Hugh Wooldridge says "This evening is a must for all who love musicals. Come along and hear the best performers in the world performing some of the world's greatest songs. Come and join in the fun; come and raise funds for a most splendid charity at the Royal Albert Hall."

The Night of 1000 Stars takes place tonight, May 5, 2013 at 8.00pm. Tickets start at £15.50 and are available from the Royal Albert Hall box office on 020 7589 8212 or by visiting www.royalalberthall.com.

For more information about the event, visit www.thenightof1000voices.com.