Joe McElderry Set for Special Gala Performance of DIRTY DANCING at Sunderland Empire Today, Sept 25

The producers of the smash hit musical DIRTY DANCING previously announced that Teenage Cancer Trust ambassador and North East patron Joe McElderry would be joining the cast for a special gala performance at the Sunderland Empire today, 25 September, in aid of the charity.

The Geordie singer, whose new album Here’s What I Believe will be released on 10 September, will perform the iconic Dirty Dancing finale number Time of My Life. There will be bucket collections before and after each show during the week of 24 September, with all with all proceeds going towards supporting teenagers and young adults diagnosed with cancer across the UK.

Joe said, “Musical theatre is a huge passion of mine, and I’ve always been a huge fan of Dirty Dancing and so I’m very excited to be taking part!”

DIRTY DANCING producer Karl Sydow said, “We are thrilled that Joe is joining us in Sunderland! I have personally supported the Teenage Cancer Trust for a number of years and I’ve seen at first hand the difference the specialist units can make to the lives of young people affected by this disease.“

DIRTY DANCING will run at the Sunderland Empire now through Saturday October 6th  2012. Visit the Sunderland Empire website at www.sunderlandempire.org.uk.

DIRTY DANCING – THE CLASSIC STORY ON STAGE, written by Eleanor Bergstein, script writer and creator of the phenomenally successful film, features all the much-loved characters and original dialogue from the iconic film with exciting extra scenes added in! The tantalising dance sequences and brand new choreography come alive on stage, set to all the hits from the unforgettable soundtrack, such as ‘Do You Love Me?’, ‘Hungry Eyes’ and the Academy Award Winning ‘(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life’, plus many more songs that weren’t on the original recording, making the show a truly extraordinary live experience.

The first ever UK tour opened in Bristol in September 2011, and has since broken box office records across the country, making it one of the most successful tours in UK history. It is currently booking through to May 2013, and tickets are in high demand.

Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to improving the quality of life and chances of survival for the six young people aged between 13 and 24 diagnosed with cancer every day. The charity builds specialist units within NHS hospitals that bring young people together to be treated by teenage cancer
experts in a place designed just for them.

Teenage Cancer Trust wants every young person with cancer to have access to the best possible care and professional support from the point of diagnosis, no matter where they live. Traditionally treated alongside children or elderly patients at the end of their lives, young people can feel extremely isolated during cancer treatment, some never meeting another young person with cancer. Being treated alongside others their own age by experts in teenage and young adult cancer care, can make a huge difference to a young person’s experience.

Teenage Cancer Trust relies on donations to fund all of its vital work. Find out more, get involved or make a donation at www.teenagecancertrust.org. Teenage Cancer Trust is a registered charity: 1062559 (England & Wales), SC039757 (Scotland).