Alison Norton's am dram round-up - October 7

Show Week is finally here,

! My home company, South Staffs, are very excited as Guys and Dolls starts next week and all their hard work will hopefully pay off, but already the cast are thinking about next year's show, which we are very proud to say will be The Sound of Music.

This show hasn't been performed at the Grand Theatre for many years, and we are hoping that audiences will be delighted by our choice.

I guess I had better dust off my nun's habit!

Another company in the area also performing The Sound of Music in 2012 is Albrighton Musical Theatre Company.

They are about to go into rehearsal and are looking for new members to take part. If you are a prospective Maria, Captain Von Trapp or know a little one who would like to audition to appear as one of the children, contact Alan Pooler on 01902 373403 or email alanpooler@btinternet.com for further details.

Alternatively, their first meeting is at Albrighton Primary School on October 12 at 7.30pm, so just go along.

Drama now, and to a play which is not performed very often and so offers something different for lovers of light comedy. The award-winning Charlemont Drama Society is presenting Curtain Call by Bettine Manktelow from October 12-15 at Pennyhill School, West Bromwich.

This group have won the Best Production award for their area, presented by NODA, for four out of the last five years. Well done guys!

In the play the Thurlow Playhouse is a theatre on the verge of ruin. Manager Alec Partridge has the unenviable task of dealing with a whole host of difficult characters, including the humourless Ms Murdstone from the Arts Council, Doreta Mason whose ridiculous demands are just impossible and her husband Clarence, who can only be described as Attila the Hun.

However, even when things look really black, help is never far away, albeit from an unusual source and of course there's a happing ending.

Directed by Dave Hill, the play features Dave's wife Sylvia as Doreta, Keith Blackwell, as Front of House Manager, Murphy, and Mwyndeg Price as Alec.

New members are also welcome, particularly in the 30-50 year old age group. For more information or to book tickets for Curtain Call, contact Eric Stott on 0121 308 1596.

There's a production of The Graduate at the Grange Playhouse in Walsall, performed by The Fellowship Players, from October 6-15.

Benjamin Braddock, a bright young man, is seduced by an older woman and embarks upon an affair that is complicated enough, but when he falls in love with her daughter, things take a turn for the worst.

Originally produced on Broadway before moving to London in the year 2000, The Graduate is based on the classic movie which starred Dustin Hoffman and Ann Bancroft.

For tickets call Stephen Ralph on 07867953071 or visit the groups' website www.fellowship-players.co.uk

Over at the Rose Theatre in Kidderminster, you can catch a production of Daphne Du Maurier's Rebecca, presented by The Nonentities, from October 10-15.

On their return from honeymoon, the new wife of millionaire Maxim de Winter struggles to cope with the comparisons made by everyone between her and his first wife, the enigmatic Rebecca.

Will true love conquer all and dispel the ghost forever? This is a tale of murder and mystery, loved by romantics the world over.

Spokesperson for the group, Kerena Taylor said: "The script differs in some aspects from both the novel and the film versions, but Du Maurier adapted Rebecca as a stage play herself and it has been a favourite ever since."

For tickets, contact the Rose Theatre box office on 01562 743745 or visit www.rosetheatre.co.uk

Prefer classical music? Viva Musica from Cradley Heath is presenting a concert at the Salvation Army Citadel in the town on October 15.

In support of the Deansley Centre at New Cross Hospital, the concert features a mixture of classical, religious, modern and choral music, catering for all tastes.

For tickets, priced at just £8, call David Cooper on 01384 371388.

Jesus Christ Superstar is very popular at the moment and if rock opera is your thing, you can see it at Wolverhampton Civic Hall from October 12-15, presented by Brierley Hill Musical Theatre Company.

This musical is based on the last week in the life of Jesus, leading up to his crucifixion, and features songs including Heaven on my Mind, Superstar and the beautiful I Don't Know How to Love Him.

Spokesman, Graham Smith, said: "The production team and cast are creating an authentic version of the story, combining lively crowd scenes with powerful and moving solos."

For tickets contact 0845 065808035 or visit www.bhmtc.co.uk

That's all for this week, email me with all your news and photos to a.norton@expressandstar.co.uk

Wish me luck with Guys and Dolls!