EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
ASRADA engages in fundraising events and activities to ensure that its support
of excellence in training in the dramatic arts is sustainable for the future.
It is always a pleasure for the ASRADA President and Officers to meet
donors and supporters of our work at these events.
FUTURE EVENTS
To be announced.
PAST EVENTS
ASRADA GREETS NEW RADA PRINCIPAL NIAMH DOWLING NOVEMBER 30, 2022
ASRADA President Peter Francis James and new RADA Principal, Niamh Dowling
There was a casual late afternoon gathering at Cafe Un Deux Trois in New York, 30th November. ASRADA arranged a last-minute meet and greet to take advantage of a wonderful opportunity for New York alumni to meet the new principal of RADA, Niamh Dowling, who was in town for a few days. Many were working or away for the holidays but among those in attendance were Tara Hugo (ASRADA Vice-Pres and organizer), Jarlath Conroy, Steven Crossley, John Windsor-Cunningham, Fleece, Ben Gotleib, Stella Kammel, Gaydon Phillips, Imani Jade Powers and Sean Quigley.
ASRADA, RADA AND STEPHEN SONDHEIM
Autumn 2019, RADA presented renowned composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim with his RADA Honorary Fellowship at a special event in New York organized by ASRADA.
Jenna Augen and Jamie Bogyo perform Sondheim for Sondheim.
Hosted by the British Consul-General, the evening included performances by American RADA graduates Jenna Augen and Jamie Bogyo, who sang Sondheim’s ‘Moments in the Wood’ from Into the Woods and ‘The Ballad of Booth’ from Assassins respectively.
“During his extraordinary career Stephen Sondheim has transformed the landscape not only of musical theatre, but of theatre itself,” said Edward Kemp, director of RADA. “In our training at RADA he is often compared both to Mozart and to Shakespeare, and in many ways his songs are as much the cornerstone of our singing training as Shakespeare’s poems and plays are the foundation of our text work.”
Edward Kemp, former RADA principal, presents the Honorary Fellowship to Stephen Sondheim
At the event, Stephen Sondheim said: “I’ve been an Anglophile for a long time, partly because the first good reviews I ever got were in London. This is a continuing love affair”.
Watch the video below to see Stephen Sondheim receiving his Honorary Fellowship
ASRADA Broadway Fundraiser for RADA
“HILARY AND CLINTON” PERFORMANCE AT THE GOLDEN THEATRE, NYC 2019
Peter Francis James who portrayed Barak Obama in HILLARY & CLINTON arranged for tickets to be available to donors on behalf of ASRADA. The proceeds went towards supporting RADA students. Supporters and alumni gathered at Joe Allen’s in New York to celebrate.
ASRADA and QUEEN ELIZABETH II
A CELEBRATION OF DRAMATIC ART – FEBRUARY 17, 2014
Hollywood stars and the giants of British film and theatre gathered for A Celebration of Dramatic Art at Buckingham Palace, a night celebrating the Queen’s 60 years as patron of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
The Duchess of Cambridge and HRM watch the evening’s entertainment
As a trustee of ASRADA Tara Hugo attended the Palace event. Also, in attendance from the US by special invitation, were ASRADA Americans donors acknowledged for their generosity in support of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
Queen Elizabeth II and Tara Hugo on behalf of ASRADA
Around 250 guests attended from a range of backgrounds, including acting, playwriting, teaching, producing, and directing. Notably, several A-listers were present, many participating in the evening’s entertainment, including a surprise performance by Dame Helen Mirren.
The evening ended with RADA students performing for Her Majesty and The Duchess of Cambridge.
London Drama Schools Present Their Grads in New York
November 2019 on Theatre Row in New York, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, the Lir Dublin and Guildhall School of Music and Drama presented a showcase of their recent graduates. Natasha Cowley and Jamie Bogyo represented RADA.
ASRADA (American Supporters of RADA) Fundraiser: BAM Performance/Reception held on January 30, 2011
The program of events started at 12pm with a special benefit luncheon at the home of Francine LeFrak (RADA Ambassador) and Rick Friedberg in Manhattan, among those in attendance were Mr. and Mrs. John A. Catsimatidis, Loreen Arbus, Pat Schoenfeld, Carol Campbell, Erika Slezak, Ralph Fiennes, Tara Hugo and Peter Francis James followed by a 3pm performance at BAM of JOHN GABRIEL BORKMAN starring Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw and Lynsay Duncan, immediately followed by a Celebrity Guest Reception with British and American RADA alumni Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Erika Slezak, Ralph Fiennes, Steven Crossley, Peter Francis James, Tara Hugo, Justin Adams, Rachel Siegel, Ben Gotlieb and other RADA alums and former faculty including Eve Shapiro, in addition to RADA Council Chairman – Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen, RADA Artistic Director – Edward Kemp, and a number of special guests including Daniel Radcliffe, Alfre Woodard and Marilyn Scott-Murphy. The photographer for the event was Jillian Nelson.
left: Tara Hugo & Alan Rickman BAM Event. right: Tara Hugo, Richard Francis James, Richard Rivas
left: Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen, Peter Francis James, Alan Rickman. right: Steven Crossley.
left: Eduardo Cukier, Tara Hugo, Ralph Fiennes. right: Peter Francis James and Justin Adams.
left: Alan Rickman & Ralph Fiennes at the BAM Event. right: Alfre Woodard & Marsha Firestein at BAM
left: Alan Rickman & Francine LeFrak BAM Event. right: Alan Rickman & Eve Shapiro at BAM.
ASRADA (American Supporters of RADA) Fundraiser: A Special Broadway Fundraising Theatre Trip, November 9, 2011
Supporters joined RADA Chairman Stephen Waley-Cohen, RADA Director Edward Kemp and ASRADA for the Broadway performance of SEMINAR by Theresa Rebeck starring Alan Rickman followed by a casual post show cocktail party reception with the stars of the show. Guests included: Abby Eletz, Alice Boyne, Carol Campbell, Former US Ambassador to Finland Earle Mack and Mrs. Carol Mack, Carole Medlar, Sue Steinke, Janet Bertram, Davin Day, Emily Bennett, Heather Randall, Helen Patton, Robert Patton, Bernard Vavala, Christa Wakeford, Ismet Lisica, Michael Shevack, Melora Mennesson, Sarah Robards, Peter Lion and Karen Lion, Lorinda Radigonda, Marie-Lan Tay Pamart, Marilena Greig, Sheila and Richard Schwartz, Randy and June Guggenheimer, Peter Francis James, Richard Rivas, Tara Hugo, Robbie Holman, Caroline Hawley.
Annual ARN (Americas RADA Network) and RADA Get Together
Each year RADA travels to New York to conduct the first round of auditions for its flagship 3-year BA Hons Acting Degree. The visit presents an opportunity for Edward Kemp, Director of RADA and the Americas RADA Network, (a network of North American alumni who graduated from RADA’s full acting and technical programs) to get together for a casual reunion in New York. Past events have taken place at the Players Club at Gramercy Park, Café Un Deux Trois, and Angus McIndoe Restaurant.