Melbourne, take your Hats Off for charity

The variety event Hats Off has been a mainstay on the Melbourne
Arts Calendar for over a decade, and this Sunday 28th August, the cream
of Australia’s media, arts and entertainment community will again come
together to support a worthy cause.

  The variety event Hats Off has been a mainstay on the Melbourne Arts Calendar for over a decade, and this Sunday 28th August, the cream of Australia’s media, arts and entertainment community will again come together to support a worthy cause. 
OZ Showbiz Cares/Equity Fights Aids (OSCEFA) presents a night of showstopping entertainment at the National Theatre in St Kilda, raising money for people living with HIV. Currently, there are around 20,000 living with HIV in Australia, with more than a quarter of these cases in Victoria. In 2010 alone there were 231 new notifications of HIV in Victoria. Hats Off is a showcase of Australia’s music theatre, cabaret and live entertainment industry, with a line up including Rhonda Burchmore, Jackie Rees, Mary Fields, Amanda Harrison (Wicked), Christie Wheelan (Xanadu), Michael Falzon (Rock Of Ages), Josh Piterman and Janet Todd (Kismet), members of the casts of Love Never Dies and Anything Goes.

Director of this year’s concert, John O’May says he is humbled by the amount of support the event has received from the industry.  “It’s these kinds of events which make me really proud to be a part of the arts industry”, said O’May.  “Everybody always says ‘yes’, and it’s an affirming kind of thing about this business – we are always willing to say ‘yes’ to help out causes. Concerts to raise money for causes wherewhere people help out each other”.
John O’May is directing the evening for the second year running and he has assembled a stellar cast for the concert. He explains that Hats Off  is a ‘traditional variety show’, and very different to Twisted Broadway, another fundraiser for OZ Showbiz Cares/Equity Fights Aids.  “The cause is the same, but it’s wonderful that it’s not just a repeat performance. It shows the breadth of our industry, really”, said O’May.  From musical theatre superstars to virtuosic magicians and everything in between, Hats Off offers something for everyone and is set to be an incredible night of entertainment. So head down the National Theatre in St Kilda this Sunday from 8pm – not only to support a great cause but for your chance to see Australia’s greatest entertainers strut their stuff in the name of charity!

National Theatre, Cnr. Carlisle and Barkly Streets, St Kilda Sunday 28 August8:00pm   
Tickets:   $55 adult / $45 conc. and MEAA members (transaction fees may apply)   
Bookings:   132 849 www.ticketek.com.au / Ticketek outlets 
or from National Theatre Box Office 95254611 www.nationaltheatre.org.au Photo by Jeff Busby: Australian cast of Rock of Ages