Watching musicals at the theatre

[darren]

UP UNTIL 2016 ID NEVER BEEN TO THE THEATRE SEEN LOADS AND LOADS OF MUSICALS

GREAT FUN.HERES A PIC OF THE INSIDE.

https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.fPWpao...id=ImgDet&rs=1
AND OUTSIDE.
https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.ced72331...pid=ImgRaw&r=0

[George 1978]

Sorry to hear the death of Bill Kenwright - a great force in theatre musicals (obituary started in Gone But Not Forgotten).

[Richard1978]

Grease could be excellent; some great music! I didn't really know Dreamgirls was being done live, or perhaps it started there... I've only known of the film.

I didn't know it was a stage show until I saw the film, but it took a very long time to even come to the West End.

[beccabear67]

Grease could be excellent; some great music! I didn't really know Dreamgirls was being done live, or perhaps it started there... I've only known of the film.

[George 1978]

For my birthday this year, I went all the way to the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - the Musical. Great cast, and great performance! I have gone from (King) Charles to Charlie (Bucket) in the space of one year!

A few weeks ago, I found out that next year, Grease the Musical is literally on my doorstep at the Nottingham Theatre Royal which disappoints me as I love travelling halfway across the country, but on the other hand, it would save me money on coach and hotel expenses. Just have to wait and see.

[Richard1978]

All going well I'll be watching Dreamgirls in Manchester on Saturday.

[George 1978]

July 2022: Chicago at the Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield. Originally looked at the Alexandra in Birmingham, but tried to see this many times but was unable to, including my birthday in 2021 where they were supposed to be in Llandudno, but was moved to nearly a year later due to the Covid situation. They were in Sunderland during the Platinum Jubilee weekend (RIP) but ill health stopped me from going. Finally got to see it in Sheffield at last before the end of its run. Enjoyed Faye Brookes as Roxie Hart, singing And All That Jazz, and the females wearing black.

August 2022: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour [sic] Dreamcoat at the Bristol Hippodrome on my birthday. Jason Donavan appeared as one of the characters that he wasn't usually associated with, although having Donavan appearing is like Grease being performed by Travolta and the late Livvy! To be honest, I thought that JD would be understudied due to his association with the recently-axed Neighbours and the fact that he was involved with the publicity of that. Went to a fast food place and someone in the queue was humming one of the songs in the musical herself while she waited.

Just before Christmas, I might pop down to Southend to see Diversity in Snow White at the Cliffs Pavilion. Wanted their autographs and tried to get them last year but couldn't. As Southend has had a roller-coaster year what with electing a new MP, (Justice being done for her predecessor's killer), and the town becoming a city, it might be my way of paying homage down there.

[George 1978]

Having another sabbatical, hence the absence on here...

Anyway, saw Hairspray the Musical at the Liverpool Empire theatre on my birthday - as I was walking along Lime Street I noticed a very long queue, and it took me a few minutes that they were theatre punters, and to realise that it was because of the COVID restrictions and the theatre staff were going to allow them in one at a time. Everyone had to prove that they had both vaccines or had a negative lateral flow test within the previous 48 hours (done just after midnight on Sunday) in which I had with using a test kit with the details printed out.
Eventually got inside, shown my ticket and the negative test to staff, and went to the stalls for the show - it started a bit later at around 7.45 pm because of the COVID checks and all that.

Norman "Hale and..." Pace was great with an American accent, (I am certain that I have seen him in Hale and Pace sketches where he plays American Wild West-type characters), and so was the (male) actor who played the sub-Wishee Washee role as well.

Unfortunately apart from the programmes, there were no souvenirs for sale. "We weren't given any", a staff member said when I asked at the interval. No mugs or fridge magnets, which was a pity. Because of the late start, the interval and the second half was later as well, and it didn't properly end until around 10.10 pm, some 15 or 20 minutes afterwards.

Might try for Chicago next year if they can extend to August - I know that it has been extended to July. Mama Mia is there on that date in Canterbury, but it does mean having to go through London to get there...

[George 1978]

Well, most of us will spend around two and a half months of our life celebrating our birthdays, so you might as well make the most of it, and I think that milestones such as 50, 60, 70 etc, are just as important as earlier ages.

I believe that Gareth Hale is alive and well - I just think that Hale and Pace are just doing their own things which is something that I couldn't imagine Morecambe and Wise doing. It would be nice to have them both starring in it though.

[tex]

Nice that you still consider birthdays "special" George, when you reach my age you stop counting the years off. Hale and Pace were very funny at the height of alternative comedy during the 80s, did Gareth hale die?

[George 1978]

Booked tickets to see Hairspray the Musical at the Empire Theatre in Liverpool on that "special date" in the near future - it has Norman Pace out of Hale and Pace in the cast so it should be good. As coronavirus might be almost gone by then, fingers crossed, I assume that it will go ahead as planned.

Will let you know what I thought of it later on in the year.

[George 1978]

Re: Watching musicals at the theatre

Didn't get to see have my annual birthday sabbatical due to the coronavirus and all the theatres were obvious closed with performances of shows cancelled (would have chosen wither Southend or Leeds) - stayed at home for the first time in years.

Spent the morning of my birthday last month writing an open letter on my computer about how the virus is damaging theatres and depriving people of watching shows there (including my birthday plans for this year), as well as the effect it has on performers - I sent a copy of the letter to my MP (who responded by email), as well as the PM and Oliver Dowden of the DCMS. Other recipients include Equity (who invited me to sign a .gov.uk petition regarding connected to the subject of theatres and actors); Spotlight; The Stage newspaper; local theatres (Nottingham Playhouse responded by email); dignitaries such as Lloyd-Webber (Really Useful Group responded), C Macintosh, Kenwright, and others. Anyone I could think of in connection to the theatre, musicals, drama and acting. I hope that we can see theatres reopening as normal not too long into the future.

Next year, Chicago the Musical is starting a run in March 2021 (although the second wave might put that back on the back burner). I might book tickets in lieu of this year, but considering the situations that have happened in Birmingham over the last few weeks, I might try the Sunderland Empire or even Liverpool. We will just have to wait and see...

[George 1978]

Re: Watching musicals at the theatre

As you obviously know, at the moment the theatres (and their Box Offices) are closed due to the coronavirus, and sadly it might mean that visiting the theatre on my birthday this year could be cancelled. At this time of year, I make plans, but to be honest, I don't know what life will be like in just a couple of weeks' time at the moment.

After looking at the contenders of: Felixstowe (Joe Pasquale down there); Southend (some "Puttin' on the Ritz"-style musical there); Bridlington (a Take That "Experience" tribute show up there); and Blackpool (Motown tribute show - no longer performing on the night - postponed until April next year).

I have decided to go for the great Jane McDonald, alumnus of the 1990s docusoap The Cruise (Jeremy Spake or Maureen Rees, anyone?) who will (hopefully if it things get better) be at the Leeds Grand Theatre - as she's from Wakefield, she will be performing again on her home soil. However, just 28 seats left in the entire place, and things are in limbo because of the virus, so I am not counting my chickens until they have hatched. No point in booking at this moment in time in other words, but I hope that there will be light at the end of the tunnel between now and August...

[George 1978]

Re: Watching musicals at the theatre

Got the autographs of the Grease cast in Saturday's post - Brilliant.

[George 1978]

Re: Watching musicals at the theatre

I've seen a few musicals in recent years at the West End & Manchester.

Sounds as if that comment was meant for this thread.