Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment and Joseph Houston and William Whelton of Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester have announced An Evening With Stephen Schwartz, a showcase of the multi-award-winning American lyricist and composer’s best loved repertoire, on Sunday 17 February. A drinks and finger buffet will begin at 6pm, with the main event beginning at 7.30pm, including Schwartz’s first ever UK panel discussion about his life and work.
In a career that spans four decades, Schwartz has written such critically acclaimed shows as Wicked, Pippin and Godspell and contributed lyrics to the films Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame and songs for The Prince of Egypt.
The evening will be Hope Aria Production’s second fundraising event, after the success of ‘An Aria of Hope and Dreams’, with all proceeds from ticket sales going towards their 2019 season of work. The season opens with Schwartz’s Rags from 2 March – 6 April, Mame with music by Jerry Herman, starring Tracie Bennett, from 27 September – 9 November, and The Astonishing Times Of Timothy Cratchit, a new musical, with music and lyrics by newcomer Andre Catrini, from 22 November – 29 December.
Hope Aria Productions was created in 2016, when Joseph Houston and William Whelton of Hope Mill Theatre joined forces with Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment to spearhead the venue as a home for new musicals, musical premieres and musical revivals.
