MEDIA RELEASE

Brendan Moar and Jan van de Stool to host Light the Night

It was today announced that The Renovator’s Brendan Moar along with International Musical Therapist Jan van de Stool will host this year‟s Light the Night charity concert on Monday October 31 at 7.30pm at the City Recital Hall, Angel Place.

Moar brings a wealth of experience as host having appeared on Foxtel's Dry Spell Gardening since 2008 as well as several other lifestyle programs including By Design, Home and Moar Gardening. He is host of The Renovators, which airs currently on Channel Ten. Brendan‟s co-host Jan van de Stool, the comedic alter-ego of musical theatre star Queenie van de Zandt, is a bumbling self-appointed self-help guru who uses her somewhat questionable own style of healing called "Musical therapy‟.

More performers have also been announced for the charity concert. Joining those stars already announced will be Australia‟s own Helpmann Award-winning Mary Poppins Verity Hunt-Ballard, musical theatre legend Debra Byrne, Australian actress and performer Hollie Andrew known for her role in Somersault and recently seen in Sing on Through Tomorrow, Brian Campeau and Elana Stone‟s new project The Rescue Ships, as well as musical theatre stars Lara Mulcahy (MAMMA MIA!) and Kate Maree Hoolihan (We Will Rock You). Music Theatre Students from the Australian Institute of Music will also be performing in the concert.

Other performers already confirmed include leading Australian jazz vocalist Emma Pask who will be accompanied by Phil Stack, multi-award winning singer and actor Paul Capsis, Wicked star David Harris, up and coming independent artist Ben Abraham, popular musical theatre performer Michael Griffiths and acclaimed Flamenco Guitarist Damien De Boos-Smith. This year‟s performance also showcases three stars of Hairspray Jack Chambers, Trevor Ashley and the Helpmann Award-winning Esther Hannaford, as well as leading cabaret performers Lesley Hancock, Marika Aubrey, Gillian Cosgriff and Sheridan Harbridge.

Now in its seventh year, Light the Night has become a “must see” on the Sydney Entertainment Calendar. Funds raised at this event have exceeded $250,000 with all proceeds going towards funding leukaemia research. This year, money raised will fund the Light the Night Research Grant that supports a promising new Gene Control in Acute Leukaemia project being undertaken by St Vincent‟s Hospital‟s Haematology Research Team, as well as The Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation.

Light the Night is inspired by Matthew Rennie, a brave young man who fought a three year battle against leukaemia. Unfortunately Matthew passed away shortly before the 2007 concert. Light the Night was created by Matthew‟s two brothers, musical theatre performers Shaun Rennie and Adam Rennie, and friends Monica Smith and Greg Smith.

www.lightthenight.com.au

BOOKINGS
City Recital Hall box office 02 8256 2222 or www.cityrecitalhall.com