An all-day concert to support people fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine will go ahead.
The event, Queens Care Day for Ukraine, was scheduled at Liverpool’s Astor Theatre April 30 but was postponed after several performers became ill.
Astor Theatre General Manager Jean Robinson-Dexter says a new date for the event will be announced shortly.
Robinson-Dexter says after hearing the stories about the suffering in Ukraine she and a group of volunteers decided they had to do something.
“I guess it’s over a month ago now when they said that a theatre, a children’s theatre was bombed in a city in Ukraine,” Robinson-Dexter. “And that just kind of hit me to the core that places that people come together because they love theatre and they love the arts, and for that to happen…”
While Robinson Dexter and fellow organizer Ashley Goodwyn work to find a new date for the performances, Deborah Raddall, Melanie Inglis and Charmaine Stevens are spearheading efforts to raise money through a hybrid online and live auction.
The silent auction is already accepting bids through the Queens Care Day for Ukraine Silent Auction Facebook page.
Bidding will remain open until noon on May 12.
The auction will then go live, in person at the Liverpool Town Arts and Cultural Centre from 5:00pm to 8:00pm and the winners can claim their prizes that night.
Local artist Roger Savage will be painting portraits on-site that day and donating all the proceeds to the fundraiser.
Savage has agreed to take sittings this Saturday as well which must be scheduled in advance by calling the Astor Theatre box office.
Robinson-Dexter says the group has set a goal of donating $10,000 to the Red Cross Ukraine Appeal.
She says the effort is the result of many people bringing their talents together for a good cause.
“What can we do? Well let’s do what we can do best and have performers on our stage and bring our community together to do what we can,’ said Robinson-Dexter. “So often we feel helpless when these things happen in other parts of the world.”
For more information visit the Queens Cares - A Day For Ukraine Facebook page or call the Astor Theatre box office at 902-354-5250.
Reported by Ed Halverson
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson
To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.