Despite being taken from us all too soon, Whitney Houston’s lasting legacy will always be her music, and the style and class in which she performed it is being celebrated in an exciting new theatre show which visits the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells on Saturday 31st October at 7.30pm
Born on 9th August 1963, Whitney Houston rose to super stardom through her awe inspiring talent, but her life, like many who experience the dizzy heights and excesses of fame, was tragically cut short. From humble beginnings in Newark, New Jersey, as a Gospel Choir soloist, at the age of 11 she found her “God-given gift”… Her voice!
By the age of 14 she was working as a backing singer with notable music industry greats including Chaka Chan, Lou Rawls and Jermaine Jackson. The 1980’s saw her do a short spell as a fashion model whilst continuing her recording work which led to her being signed up, in 1983, by Arista records which would prove to be the launch-pad of her singing career.
The release of her debut album, Whitney Houston, in 1985 heralded the beginning of her rise to prominence and was swiftly followed by the release of a number of chart-topping singles and her first Grammy Award in 1986. The rest of the decade saw her gain hit after hit and award after award, and culminated in her undertaking her first acting role in the blockbuster film “The Bodyguard” for which she also performed the soundtrack that won her a further three Grammies.
Following her turbulent relationship with Bobby Brown, and highly publicised divorce, she re-launched herself onto the world stage. But it wasn’t to be. One of the best-selling artists of all time, one of the 20th century’s greatest talents and one of the most highly awarded female artists in the history of pop music, died on February 11th 2012.
Seasoned Producer, Paul Roberts, spent many arduous weeks searching the UK for a star in the making who would have the personality and voice to be Whitney. After auditioning hundreds who aspired to the iconic role, he discovered an exceptional young talent in Rebecca Freckleton – and he knew instantly that she was the one who could truly portray Whitney – Queen of the Night.
Rebecca has toured internationally and worked alongside high profile artistes including Macy Gray, Paloma Faith, The Noisettes and Jools Holland, and together with a super talented company of singers and musicians deliver a show packed with hits including I Wanna Dance With Somebody, I’m Every Woman, I Will Always Love You, Saving All My Love, Where Do Broken Hearts Go, Greatest Love Of All and many, many more. Paying unrivalled homage to a real music legend the show is receiving rave reviews wherever it plays and looks likely to be kept busy for many years to come.
Whitney – Queen of the Night appears at the Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells on Saturday 31st October at 7.30pm. Tickets, priced at £21, Concs £19, Plus a £1.25 per ticket booking fee can be purchased online at www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk or through the box office on 01892 530613.
