Hosted by the god-father of rock musicals, Tim Rice, The Best of… Rock Musicals featured London’s Kerry Ellis (Wicked and We Will Rock You ) and New York’s Adam Pascal (Rent) and Judy Kuhn (Les Misèrables and Chess); Europe’s Kristina Love (Tina), Christian Lund (The Phantom of the Opera) and David Michael Johnson (Jesus Christ Superstar) together with a host of Broadway and West End talent including Ricardo Afonso, Sabrina Aloueche and Noel Sullivan (We Will Rock You), Elvie Ellis (Hairspray), Rachel Fabri (Jesus Christ Superstar), Emma Hatton (Wicked), Rob Houchen (Les Misérables), Emma Kingston (Evita), Debbie Kurup (Sweet Charity), Jon Robyns (Hamilton), and Ray Shell (Starlight Express), the West End Chorus, the City of London Philharmonic AllStars, introduced by national treasure, Christopher Biggins, and via screen by Richard O’Brien and Alexander Armstrong.
Amongst many others, The Best of… Rock Musicals included songs from Jesus Christ Superstar, Hair, Evita, Chess, Aida, RENT, Tommy, We Will Rock You, The Rocky Horror Show, The Little Shop of Horrors and Dear Evan Hansen.
The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust was formed in 1997 by the Waller family in memory of their son and brother, Charlie, who took his own life whilst suffering from depression. The Trust offers support and education to those affected by depression and mental illness. Its vision is of a world where people understand and talk openly about depression; where young people are educated on the importance of staying mentally well, and where treatment is available to everyone who needs it. Particularly in musical theatre and the performing arts, where depression and mental unhappiness is often masked by a smiling face.