Dreamboats and Petticoats
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Dreamboats and Petticoats | |
---|---|
Music | Various |
Lyrics | Various |
Book | Laurence Marks & Maurice Gran |
Basis | The compilation album series Dreamboats and Petticoats |
Productions | 2009 UK tour 2009 London (first run) 2010 London (second run) 2010 UK tour |
Dreamboats and Petticoats is a jukebox musical based on popular songs from the fifties and early sixties. The musical, featuring those songs of the rock 'n' roll era, is set around the years 1957 to 1963[1] and was written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran.
It was first performed at The Churchill Theatre in Bromley in February 2009 followed by a UK tour. This run received rave critical reviews and widespread audience acclaim. Therefore, it subsequently moved to the Savoy Theatre in London's West End from July to September in 2009[2] and has since returned to London at its new location at the Playhouse Theatre; where it currently[when?] plays. A second national tour has just finished touring the UK.
Well over a million people are reported to have seen the show.
Synopsis
In 1961 emotions run high as young musicians Norman and Bobby compete to win a national song writing competition – and, more importantly, the attention of the gorgeous Sue! But when Bobby discovers that shy Laura is no slouch on the piano, love and rock 'n' roll fame beckons...
Development
After spending several weeks at the number one spot in the UK Compilation Charts and with over two million copies sold of the first album, the unexpected success of Dreamboats and Petticoats CD series made producers of the series to consider a stage musical adaptation. Brian Berg, the managing director of Universal Music TV (UMTV) and director of Universal Music UK, reportedly saw a niche in the market for older audiences who preferred the music of their teenage years in comparison to the seemingly inaccessible youth-driven playlists on current radio stations. Berg saw the adaptation of a stage musical as a move that "would enhance the brand" and therefore got in touch with Bill Kenwright, producer Laurie Mansfield and writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran to pen the book of the show. He had "the basic idea of youth clubs and nostalgia and a songwriting competition" as the basis of the show because he was a teenager in the sixties who attended a local youth club in Finsbury Park, north London. He added, "As kids growing up in the Sixties we all played in bands, I was a drummer in The Sound Barrier, the greatest unsigned band of the Sixties."[1]
Current productions
London (2009–present)
Dreamboats and Petticoats was first performed in London at the Savoy Theatre on 22 July 2009. The run terminated on 31 October 2009 to make way for Legally Blonde.
Role | Original | 2010-11 | Current |
---|---|---|---|
Bobby | Scott Bruton | Alexis Gerred | Scott Bruton |
Laura | Daisy Wood-Davis | Megan Jones | Charlotte Jeffery |
Norman | Ben Freeman | Bradley Clarkson | Sam Attwater |
Sue | Jennifer Biddle | Emma Stephens | Susannah Allman |
Ray | A.J Dean | A.J Dean | David Gale |
Donna | Emma Hatton | Jess Ellerby | Gemma Salter |
Older Bobby/Phil | David Cardy | Jimmy Johnston | Des O'Connor |
Derek | Patrick Burbridge | Patrick Burbridge | Patrick Burbridge |
Daisy | Sophie Byrne | Bethany Compson-Bradford | Claire McGarahan |
Barry | Robin Johnson | Kris Hudson | Kris Hudson |
Colin | Michael Kantola | Michael Kantola | Michael Kantola |
Andy | Adam Welsh | Tim Jackson | Joey Hickman |
Richard | Sam Palladio | Michael Paver | Richie Hart |
Eric | Stuart Ward | Alan Howell | Alan Howell |
Frank/Slugger/Compare | Mike Lloyd | Mike Lloyd | Mike Lyoyd |
Babs | Wendy Paver | Jessica Dyas | Jessica Dyas |
Jeremy | Andrew Venning | ROLE CUT | |
Helen | Deborah Hewwet | ROLE CUT |
After a three-month hiatus, the musical found a new location at the Playhouse Theatre on 6 January 2010. It currently plays there.
Past productions
First UK tour (2009)
Opening on 19 February 2009 at The Churchill Theatre in Bromley, Dreamboats and Petticoats had a successful run in theatres across the UK for five months. This tour finished on 18 July 2009 at the Sunderland Empire in Sunderland. Upon finishing, the production, due to heavy demand and unexpected success, moved to the West End for a three month run. This production, therefore, had the same cast as the original London cast.
Second UK tour (2010)
Again starting at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley, Dreamboats and Petticoats enjoyed another tour of the UK. This time with an alternative cast to the first time. The tour started on 19 January 2010 and played its last performance on 4 December 2010 in Grimsby.
The cast were:[3]
Role | Jan-Jul | Aug-Dec |
---|---|---|
Bobby | Josh Capper | Josh Capper |
Laura | Daniella Bowen | Daniella Bowen |
Norman | Jonathan Bremner | Jonathan Bremner |
Sue | Carolynne Good | Francesca Jackson |
Ray | Gareth Leighton | Wayne Smith |
Donna | Clare Ivory | Emily Goodenough |
Older Bobby/Phil | Anthony Clegg | Oliver Beamish |
Derek | Ben Tolley | Tristan Pate |
Daisy | Bethany Compson-Bradford | Claire McGarahan |
Barry | Daniel Graham | Charlie Wade |
Colin | Chris Coxon | Chris Coxon |
Andy | Tim Jackson | Greg Last |
Richard | Alan Howell | Alan Howell |
Eric | Glen Joseph | Glen Joseph |
Frank/Slugger/Compare | Simon Nock | Jem Dobbs |
Babs | Lauren Storer | Jessica Dyas |
Jeremy | Michael Paver | Michael Paver |
Swing | Katie Pritchard | Lauren Morgan |
Third UK tour (2011)
A third tour started in June 2011, opening at the Theatre Royal, Windsor.[4]
The cast were:[3]
Role | June - December |
---|---|
Bobby | David Ribi |
Laura | Samantha Dorrance |
Norman | Ben James Ellis |
Sue | Katie Birtill |
Ray | Josh Little |
Donna | Anna Campkin |
Older Bobby/Phil | Graeme Henderson |
Derek | Tristan Pate |
Daisy | Francesca Loren |
Barry | Christopher Wheeler |
Colin | Chris Coxon |
Andy | Adam Day Howard |
Richard | Matthew Quinn |
Eric | James Nitti |
Frank/Slugger/Compare | Chris Fry |
Babs | Emily O'Keeffe |
Jeremy | Robbie Durham |
Swing | Lauren Morgan |
Future productions
Brian Berg, the executive producer for Universal records has stated that there are plans for productions in the US and Australia and the possibility of a feature film in 2012.[5]
Music
Musical numbers
Act I
|
Act II
|
Recordings
A live cast recording of the original London cast was released on 1 December 2009. It was recorded live, in front of audiences, at the Savoy Theatre.
Critical reception
The London production received mixed reviews, with most critics concluding that the show was a light-hearted jukebox musical well-suited to an older audience. Quentin Letts at The Daily Mail described Dreamboats and Petticoats as "pacy, as shallow as a paddling pool, and innocent fun – particularly for those who lived through the songs first time round.”
Awards and nominations
The West End production was nominated for Best New Musical at the 2010 Laurence Olivier Awards.
References
- ^ a b "Home of the Daily and Sunday Express | Stage :: Interview with Dreamboats And Petticoats mastermind Brian Berg". Express.co.uk. 2010-04-27. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
- ^ Official Website
- ^ a b Bill Kenwright Ltd presents Dreamboats And petticoats http://www.kenwright.com/index.php?id=931
- ^ "Theatre Listings". Dreamboats and Petticoats. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
- ^ Rock and Pop Features. "Dreamboats and Petticoats: Dream Boat That Rocked". Telegraph. Retrieved 2012-02-14.