‘Rise Up With Arts’ virtual variety show to celebrate global theatre

Aaron Tveit and Kerry Ellis will star in the event.

To celebrate World Theatre Day, an all-star virtual variety show will be broadcast live from London. Rise Up With Arts will showcase the importance and transformative power that theatre and dance can hold, available to watch live on 27 March.

Rise Up With Arts is created by Pasha Kovalev and Anya Garnis, who've both competed as professional dancers in Strictly Come Dancing. Speaking about the upcoming event, they said: "having not been able to perform throughout 2020 and seeing many friends struggle without a creative outlet due to the pandemic, we decided to take matters into our own hands and create a virtual experience that could bring the Arts back to life."

West End stars taking part include Kerry Ellis, who recently sang "Defying Gravity" at the BBC's Musical concert, filmed at the London Palladium. Aladdin's Matt Croke will also sing, currently competing on ITV's The Voice, alongside Thomas Duern, Pearce Barron and Here Come The Boys Robin Windsor. Television stars will also take part, including Lisa Riley, Duncan James, Kevin Clifton and Arlene Phillips.

Cast members from the Broadway premiere of Moulin Rouge: The Musical will also perform as part of the event. The Tony Award-nominated actor Aaron Tveit will star, as well as Ricky Rojas and Robyn Hurder. Find out more about the upcoming London premiere of Moulin Rouge: The Musical before it opens at the Piccadilly Theatre. 

The line-up also includes screenwriter John Logan, lyricist Don Black, as well as choreographers Stacey Haynes, Dominic "D-trix" Sandoval, Dante Culcuy and Paula Duarte.

Rise Up With Arts is on 27 March. For more information, read here.

^{Photo credit: Pasha Kovalev and Anya Garnis (Photo courtesy of Rise Up With Arts)}