Magic of music that will resound in the hills
Dhanushi Wijeyakulasuriya
The performers of ‘Stars on Parade’ come from different walks of life but they all have one thing in common-at some point in their careers Jith Peiris has shared a word of encouragement, a nugget of wisdom or even a helping hand. That’s why, on April 30, they will all step on to the Lionel Wendt stage for the director’s concert for charity, ‘Stars on Parade’.
This year proceeds from the show will fund school supplies for children affected by the land slides in the hill country. “Our country’s young people are our best resource,” Jith enthuses of taking on the project. “How can I sit idle when these children can’t go to school because everything they had was taken away? I know that there are many people who can help. Sometimes you just have to knock on those doors a little harder.” School bags, shoes, stationery are the main items that will be purchased from the proceeds.
Stars on Parade will bring to the stage choirs such as the Soul Sounds Academy Choir, Menaka Singers, St. Cecilia’s Choir of St. Joseph’s College, and Holy Family Convent (Bambalapitiya) school choir alongside soloists including Amandhi Caldera, Dhanushi Wijeyakulasuriya, Eshantha de Andrado, and Danella Perera. Eshan Denipitiya, of the well-known Denipitiya clan of musicians, will perform a piano solo while dancers from Kevin Nugara’s El Latino Dance Club will also take to the stage.
Eshantha De Andrado
“I have watched many of the soloists on the show from when they started out,” Jith says of his casting. “Each of them is a wonderful vocalist in their own right, and it’s a pleasure to hear them sing.” The music for the night will have something for everyone. Broadway, of course, is a given because that’s famously known to be Jith’s predilection, so expect the best known numbers from classic musicals to be belted out on that night. The Menaka Singers, directed by Menaka De Fonseka Sahabandu, have been entrusted with Broadway, and a Sinhala language item.
Classical courtesy St. Cecilia’s Choir, singing in Latin (the choir is led by director Francis De Almeida), plus a bonus item-‘Ape Deshaya’ in three languages. A bit of movie magic will be delivered via Holy Family Convent, taking on music from Sister Act. The Soul Sounds Academy choir are geared to deliver a high energy segment with music from Mamma Mia! A chorister from St. Cecilia’s Choir will perform a solo rendition of Matinata. Amandhi Caldera will open the show and Danella Perera will close for the evening.
Taking on ‘Meine lippen sie kussen so heiss’ from the operetta Giuditta by Franz Lehar you’ll watch Dhanushi Wijeyakulasuriya, soprano. Memorably on stage last year as Christine in the Workshop Players’ Phantom of the Opera, Dhanushi has made a name for her powerful voice. “It’s such a flirtatious, showy number!” she says of her upcoming performance. “And I’m very happy to be involved with this show and the cause it supports. There’s not too much focus on the children who were affected by the landslides, so I’m happy to be able to support it.”
Eshantha De Andrado, soloist and choir director, will perform a couple of items at the show (including ‘Old Man River’ from Showboat) and says he couldn’t be more pleased to have been asked. “I’ve performed with Jith on many occasions for his shows. When he does something, Jith will put his heart and soul into what he does, you can be sure of that.”
‘Stars on Parade’ presented by the Creative Arts Foundation will go on the boards of the Lionel Wendt on Thursday, April 30 from 7.30 p.m. Tickets and box plan available at the Wendt.