Diana Ross’s iconic storm-hit 1983 Central Park concert to be screened in cinemas across the UK

Cited for more than three decades as the most successful female artist of all time, both due to her solo work and as lead singer of The Supremes, with over 70 hit singles under her belt, Diana Ross, as she proved once again at this year’s Grammy’s, remains an entertainment legend.  

The magic of Diana Ross has touched millions of hearts around the world. Her magnificent life and unparalleled career has influenced music, film, fashion and stage with her spirit forever woven into the fabric of humanity.

This March, in celebration of her 75th birthday, Diana Ross fans around the world can celebrate her birthday together by experiencing her iconic 1983 Central Park concert, remastered, in cinema in all her magnificent glory on the big screen. 

Diana Ross: A Life, Love and Legacy will be released as a one night only cinema release in over 250 cinemas across the UK & Ireland and in select European countries and is one not to be missed.

This fantastic event will bring her 1983 Central Park concert to the big screen for the first time ever and include exclusive commentary from those closest to her, including her sons Ross and Evan and daughters Rhonda and Chudney, with Tracee Ellis Ross delivering a passionate introduction and capturing the magnitude of the event.

If you aren’t aware of the events that took place on the 21 and 22  July 1983, what made this event so iconic and such a beacon performance in Diana’s career? 

First this charity concert went down in history as the largest single concert to ever happen on the Great Lawn of Central Park, New York. Described by the New York Times as having the atmosphere of “a gigantic party” nearly a million people crammed into the park, despite a heatwave, to experience the magic of Miss Ross. A record that still holds to this day. 

Within 25 minutes of of the concert kicking off the skies darkened ominously and an unexpected storm kicked in. Diana bravely tried to persevere and continue the concert despite the driving rain, thunder, lightning and 50mph winds.

Bracing herself against the weather onslaught she stood as an ethereal lone figure on the stage in a sequin orange body suit with matching chiffon robe lashing in the wind, emphatically pronouncing, “It took me a lifetime to get here… I’m not going anywhere… It’s all right if we’re going to get wet. That’s okay. Everybody stay calm.”

As her daughter Rhonda states as part of the exclusive to cinema content: “As the rain got more intense so did she!”

Eventually concerned about the safety of her fans, Diana, despite her best efforts to battle mother nature, had to bring the concert to a premature close but sang on as her fans filed out to ensure the great park remained lit and her fans were safe. Diana vowed to come back the next day and do it all again – and nothing was going to stop her. 

The following day, after a mammoth mission was undertaken to dry out Central Park, some of which was under five or six inches of water, once deemed safe, Diana true to her word returned. Approximately 800,000 fans once again united to see her, this time,  successfully deliver the full concert and an unforgettable performance.  

Featuring archive news footage from the weekend, Diana: Life, Love and Legacy exists as a concert film at it’s heart and showcases Diana’s strength, resilience and dedication to her fans. It celebrates her legacy and dramatically portrays how this unexpected turn of events made this particular concert so iconic and such a milestone in her career.

Featuring all her classic hits such as ‘I’m Coming Out’, ‘Upside Down’, ‘You Can’t Hurry Love’, ‘Ain’t no Mountain High Enough’, this concert truly is Diana at her absolute best. A trailblazing entertainer of young and old who brings together all ethnicities and nationalities to experience the voice and heart of Diana Ross.

Attitude are delighted to be working with the distributor as a promotional partner of this event and we are giving away five pairs of tickets to see the event at your local cinema – just click here to enter.

Alongside CinEvents we are also on the hunt for any fans that were there in July ‘83 and experienced the immense event for themselves get in touch to tell us what it was like to be there in person.  

Diana Ross: Her Life, Love, and Legacy is executive produced by Ms. Ross and produced by music and media producer Spencer Proffer of Meteor 17.

Showing in cinemas for one night only don’t miss out on seeing what has been described as her performance of a lifetime – go to www.mycineplace.com/dianaross to find your closest cinema and book tickets.