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Galas Honour Mendes, Black & Rodgers Centenary

A clutch of high-profile gala evenings over the next fortnight will celebrate the work of Donmar Warehouse director Sam Mendes, lyricist Don Black and composer Richard Rodgers.

On 29 September 2002, The Variety Club hosts a tribute dinner in honour of the Oscar-winning Black, whose stage musical credits Aspects of Love, Bombay Dreams and the upcoming adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. Black is also behind hit motion picture theme songs such as "Born Free" and James Bond's "Diamonds are Forever" and "The Man with the Golden Gun". Variety are expecting a number of celebrity attendees at the event held at The Dorchester in Lodnon. Tickets are £125 and can be booked on 020 7428 8100.

On 30 September 2002, the Donmar Warehouse will hold a fundraising gala performance of its current - sold-out and critically acclaimed - production of Uncle Vanya. The event will celebrate the theatre's ten-year anniversary, paying tribute to outgoing artistic director Sam Mendes (pictured) and celebrating the arrival of his successor Michael Grandage, who takes over in December.

The Donmar evening includes an interval champagne toast and post-performance champagne reception at One Aldwych. The reception will be attended by the current company - including Simon Russell Beale, Emily Watson, Helen McCrory and Mark Strong - as well as celebrity's from previous hit Donmar productions, which have included Proof (with Gywneth Paltrow), Three Days of Rain (with Colin Firth), To the Green Fields Beyond (with Dougray Scott and Ray Winstone) and The Blue Room (with Nicole Kidman).

Tickets for the Donmar evening cost £100 for the performance and interval drink only, or £250 to include the post-performance festivities. The latter also confers Donmar Patron status, with recognition in the gala and future production programmes.

Finally, in Manchester, the five-star Lowry Hotel will host the only official UK cabaret as part of this year's Richard Rodgers' Centenary celebrations. West End diva Janie Dee will be joined by Fame's Paul Spicer and other guest performers for the one-off event on 6 October 2002. They'll sing a selection of songs from hit Rodgers shows such as South Pacific, The King and I, Pal Joey, Oklahoma, The Sound of Music, On Your Toes and Carousel in the hotel's Grand Ballroom.

The Centenary Cabaret evening includes champagne cocktail reception and four-course gourmet dinner as well as the entertainment. Tickets are priced at £88 (save £20 per person or up to £76 for a pair with our current Whatsonstage.com offer). For further information, call 08707 127 733.

- by Terri Paddock

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