Bedward fund-raising benefit tickets now available

Fund-raising benefit tickets for the 16 performances of Louis Marriott's historical musical play Bedward, scheduled to be presented in March 2012, are now available. The provision of fund-raising benefit tickets is in fulfilment of a promise in the production's mission statement 'to support needy and worthy social causes through fund-raising benefit deals'.

Among the prospective beneficiaries identified are educational institutions, their past students' associations, clubs and societies; churches' fellowships and outreach groups; citizens' associations and other community organisations; organisations of and for the disabled; health-related associations; women's organisations; associations involved in child welfare and development; sports associations; sports clubs; and service clubs.

Bedward, Marriott's first full-length play, premiered as The Shepherd at the Ward Theatre in July 1960, and has had two revivals - at the Little Theatre in 1984 and 1985 and as the climax of the Reliving the Glory series of productions to celebrate 'The Year of the Ward' in 2003-2004. It was the major drama production of the World Youth Festival in Kingston, in 1985, and played to full houses and standing ovations in the Gusman Cultural Centre in Miami, Florida that year.

Groundbreaking event

The 2012 production, in the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium at Jamaica College from March 2 to 18, will be a groundbreaking event under the direction of Yvonne Brewster, OBE, the internationally acclaimed Jamaican director. The designer is Ron Steger; musical director Noel Dexter; choreographer Dr Maria Smith; lighting designer Nadia Roxburgh; stage manager Alvin Campbell; and assistant stage manager Pamela M. Bennett.

The cast includes Alwyn Scott, Winston 'Bello' Bell, Barbara McCalla, Michael Forrest, Teddy Price, Trevor Fearon, Hugh Douse, Jean-Paul Menou, Grace McDonald, Renée Rattray, Maurice Bryan and Patricia Kitson.

The Bedward production is being sponsored by The Gleaner Company Limited, Ultra Protection and Chaser's Café.

Prospective beneficiaries are invited to contact the producer by emailing: louis.marriott1935@gmail.com.