Some of Nova Scotia’s best musical talent will be joined by familiar faces from the Neptune Theatre stage for the Fly Again Telethon fundraiser, a live online event hosted by East Coast comedy star Bette MacDonald on Thursday, July 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Scheduled to appear are singers Heather Rankin, Christina Martin, Keonte Beals, T. Thomason, Ben Caplan and Reeny Smith, while the list of theatrical performers reads like a who’s who of recent Neptune Theatre hits.
“We want to give people an unforgettable night where folks feel like they are with us at the theatre as we broadcast right to their homes,” said Neptune’s artistic director Jeremy Webb, announcing the event.
“We are going old-school: laughs, music, a bank of phones to receive your calls and donations!”
Due to COVID-19 and health department restrictions on large gatherings, Neptune has had to postpone its 2020-21 season. Proceeds from the telethon will help raise funds to keep the marquee lit while the stage is silent and ticket revenue is not forthcoming.
Helping to keep those phones ringing are performers Julie Martell (Mamma Mia!, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), Karen Burthwright (Mamma Mia!, The Color Purple), Alison Palmer (Mamma Mia!, Chicago), Lyris Daye (The Color Purple), Martha Irving (Cinderella, Calendar Girls), Andrew Prashad (Cinderella), Bill Carr (Noises Off), Troy Adams (Shrek, Cinderella) and Kelly Holiff (Peter Pan).
“We joined a growing list of theatres around the world who have made the difficult decision for the show not to go on,” said Webb. “For now! This is challenging for both our company and the community we serve – this has affected the hundreds of people who work at Neptune, our community partners and our regional economy.
“It is vital that we continue to support our theatre community, the artists, designers and our employees through these challenging and unprecedented times.”
Neptune’s virtual auditorium opens at 7 p.m. on Sept. 24, followed by the 7:30 p.m. show. Donations can be made by contacting the box office at 902-429-7070, with a team of telephone operators on camera taking calls. Donations can also be made through the Neptune Theatre website and by e-transfer.
