Sam Johnson 2012 Young New Zealander of the Year Sam Johnson has been confirmed as the on-stage host of the big Gala Concert which will launch next month's Auckland Pride Festival. The two-hour long concert on February 8th will provide a showcase for many of the performers and acts who will have shows running through the Festival. It is described in the soon to be released official programme as including "a mystical Māori welcome from the magical Mika, then sit back and enjoy a colourful best-of-the-fest cavalcade of local and international cabaret, theatrical monologues, musical interludes, burlesque, bump and grind, uniforms in formation, flashes of flesh and flags a-flutter." Johnson is the openly gay Christchurch man who roused and organised thousands of his fellow university students to pitch in as the Student Volunteer Army to do initial recovery work for householders affected by the disastrous Christchurch earthquakes. "Sam has a fresh and bubbly personality, he's an out and proud gay man and his confidence is really exciting, says Gala co-director Lisa Prager. "He'll be the MC, introducing the shows and the performers and helping people get an idea of the flavour of each event, he'll be the person keeping the show running, the ring-master if you will." "We'll be showcasing what's in the Festival as a whole, it's your classic variety show in a way," says fellow co-director Verity George. "The performers will get to choose the best bit out of their shows and to promo themselves and we're hoping that plenty of people in the Gala audience will go on to buy tickets to see the particular shows that appeal to them." The ensemble numbers are being created especially for the show. "We've got all these people to work with so bringing their talents together will be the fun of it," says George. The directors, who created the very first LGBT gala as part of the series of Hero festivals, are hoping that audience members will enter into the spirit of the "black tie, dress-up occasion"and also take advantage of the opportunity to mix and mingle with the performers in the Q Theatre bar after the concert. Tickets for the Gala Concert range in cost from $30 - $48 and can be purchased through the link below.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 17th January 2013 - 10:44am