Your Midlands and Shropshire am dram guide
It’s a call from the Wild West as one am dram company is desperately seeking cowboys!
Over in Shropshire, Telford and District Light Operatic Players (TADLOP) wants cowboys, dead or alive, (but preferably alive!) to join them for their next production, which is the rootin’ tootin’, thigh-slapping Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, Oklahoma! which they will perform in October.
The show includes some wonderful production numbers including The Farmer and Cowman, Out Of My Dreams, Kansas City and the title song of course.
TADLOP publicity manager Lyndsey Bird. “It is not too late to join us and audition for a principal role; or if you just want to join the chorus and be a part of an energetic and exciting show. We need men to swell our production as we have many lovely ladies in need of a partner on stage. Experience is not essential but fun and laughter is guaranteed.”
l Interested? Contact members@tadlop.com or check out their website at www.tadlop.com
Amongst all the modern musicals, one classic standard stands head and shoulders above the rest.
My Fair Lady is best described as a play with music, rather than a musical. The script is of course based on George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion and therefore intelligent, witty and concise. The beautiful score added by Lerner and Lowe is simply an added bonus.
The characterisations are deep and complex and require excellent drama skills, not to mention in the case of Eliza Doolittle, top soprano vocal ability.
Birmingham and Midland Operatic Society, will be performing My Fair Lady from June 20-24 at the Birmingham Alexandra Theatre and spokesperson for the group, Claire Hemming says: “Our company has been trying to secure the rights for this show for many years. It was last performed in Birmingham back in 2005, so it is an honour to be bringing such an iconic show back to the city.”
The flower girl who blossoms from a guttersnipe to a fine lady, courtesy of the harsh, but effective skills of Professor Henry Higgins, is one of the most coveted roles in musical theatre and not for the feint-hearted there’s a lot to learn. The score of the show includes a host of well-known tunes such as Get Me to The Church on Time, Show Me, On the Street Where You Live, The Rain in Spain, Wouldn’t it be Luverly? and of course, I Could Have Danced All Night. My Fair Lady is simply ‘luverly’ from beginning to end!
l For tickets visit www.atgtickets.com or call 0844 871 3011.
The Circle Players who perform at Aldridge Theatre, are presenting Ken Ludwig’s play The Game’s Afoot from June 14-17.
This play is also known as Holmes for the Holidays and is set in December 1936, where Broadway star William Gillette, admired world-wide for his portrayal of super sleuth, Sherlock Holmes, has invited some friends for a weekend of fun and frolics.
But, when one of the guests is stabbed to death, the festivities in this isolated house quickly turn to danger. Then it’s up to Gillette himself, as he assumes the persona of his beloved Holmes, to track down the killer before the next victim falls foul.
Described as a ‘glittering whodunit’ it promises to be a great evening’s entertainment.
For tickets visit www.circleplayers.co.uk or call 07949358814.
Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, doesn’t sound like the stuff that musical theatre shows are made of
But nevertheless despite the gritty, macabre storyline of Christopher Bond’s original novel, Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler managed to create a witty, intelligent musical drama, which won no less than 16 Tonys and two Oliviers as well as being nominated for several other awards. Michael Ball in the title role and Imelda Staunton as his side-kick, Mrs Lovett, took London’s West End by storm in 2012, while the show returned to Broadway in 2014-2015 starring tenor Bryn Terfel and Emma Thompson, receiving even more praise and accolades.
The story surrounds barber Sweeney Todd’s return to London, following 15 years in exile as a result of the verdict of a corrupt judge who banished him. Sweeney is seeking revenge and so conspires with a local baker, Mrs Lovett, who is in desperate need to fresh meat for her pies! Need we say more?
Closer to home, the Belfrey Theatre Company will be presenting Sweeney Todd on June 30 to July 2, with evening performances at 7.30pm and a 2.30pm Saturday matinee.
The score includes The Ballad of Sweeney Todd, Pretty Women, A Little Priest and the wonderful song ballad, Not While I’m Around.
For tickets, call the box office on 01952 222277 or email boxoffice@belfreytheatre.com
Walsall Gilbert and Sullivan Society is looking for new members, and in particular young people aged from 15 years upwards.
The group regularly present G&S operettas and concerts and is the ideal vehicle for young people wanting to learn classical singing skills.
For more information call Doreen on 01543 326608 or 07940311240 or visit the group’s Facebook page.
The group is also presenting a concert of Brass and Voice, together with the West Midlands Police Brass Band, at Forest Arts Centre, Leamore, Walsall on June 24, starting at 7.30pm.
l For tickets costing £7 each, call Jo on 01922 452970 or the Forest Arts Centre box office on 0300 555 2898.
l Keep your theatrical news and good quality photos coming to a.norton@expressandstar.co.uk, call me on 01902 319662 or follow me on Twitter
@AlisonNorton
