The Gift Of Music, A Night With Julie Andrews 05-08-2010

Musical icon and beloved actress, Julie Andrews, will return to the UK stage for the first time in 30 years with a special performance in The Gift of Music. The event will be hosted at The O2 Arena on Saturday 8 May and will consist of gifts of music old and new – performances of Rodgers and Hammerstein classics, as well as the musical adaptation and her live narration of “Simeon’s Gift“, the best selling children’s book written by Julie and her daughter, Emma Walton Hamilton.

Accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Ian Fraser, Ms. Andrews will be joined on stage with an ensemble of five performers who have graced the West End and/or Broadway. Together they will take the audience on a nostalgic trip featuring clips, memories and songs of great musical theatre that will include material from “The Sound of Music”, “The King and I”, “South Pacific” and “Carousel.”

Dame Julie has captivated audiences throughout her legendary career, from her stage performances in “The Boy Friend,” “My Fair Lady,” and “Camelot” to unforgettable roles in “Mary Poppins” and “The Sound of Music” right through to her most recent projects, “The Princess Diaries”, the “Shrek” films and “Eloise at the Plaza”.  Her latest films, “Tooth Fairy”, and the animated “Despicable Me” will all be released in 2010.  She is one of the most recognized performers in the world and has an extraordinary fan base of 5 generations.

In addition to her accomplishments on stage and in filmed entertainment, Dame Julie has become an accomplished best selling author of children’s books, several co-written with her daughter. There are 25 books that have been published to date in The Julie Andrews Collection.

Julie said of her new concert in London: “To perform once again in my homeland on the London stage will be a wonderful moment – it is where it all began for me, and I am so excited to be able to share a brand new work with audiences.”