12 October 2011

'Tom Foolery' to raise money for serious cause

A night of fun, festivities and fundraising will take place at the University of Dundee's Bonar Hall this Friday.

'Tom Foolery' is a comedy revue featuring the music and lyrics of the renowned American singer-songwriter, satirist and polymath Tom Lehrer. Presented by University of Dundee Music, the event will raise money for the ‘Million For A Morgue’ campaign.

Tom Foolery was devised and produced for the stage by the British musical theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh, and the revue went on to enjoy successful runs in the West End and on Broadway. It includes many of the pithy and humorous songs that made Tom Lehrer a huge star in the 1950s and 60s.

'This is a rare chance to hear a live performance of the songs of Tom Lehrer,' said Graeme Stevenson, of University of Dundee Music.

'Tom was very popular in the 50s and 60s and wrote songs for That Was The Week That Was as well as an educational offshoot of Sesame Street. Tom Foolery was one of Cameron Mackintosh's first musicals and features such Lehrer classics as The Masochism Tango and Poisoning Pigeons in the Park.

'The cast comprises students and graduates from Dundee and St Andrews, and they have put together a fantastic production to raise money for this very worthy cause.'

The Million For A Morgue campaign is being spearheaded by Professor Sue Black, Director of the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID) at the University. The fundraising aims to enable the University to build a new morgue, which will allow researchers to adopt the Thiel method of embalming.

This gives surgeons, dentists, students and medical researchers a more realistic method of testing techniques, practising procedures and developing new equipment and approaches.

Tom Foolery takes place at the Bonar Hall at 7.30pm on Friday, 14th October. Tickets, costing £10, £8 (concessions) and £5 (students), are available from the University's Online Store or at the door.

More information about the Million For A Morgue can be found at www.millionforamorgue.com.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277