Alison Norton's Midlands am dram round-up - Feb 14
Our am dram guru Alison Norton casts her expert eye over the shows that you should be looking out for, including La Cage Aux Folles, Alice In Wonderland and Half a Sixpence. Look out too for some local charity news.
Our am dram guru Alison Norton casts her expert eye over the shows that you should be looking out for, including La Cage Aux Folles, Alice In Wonderland and Half a Sixpence. Look out too for some local charity news.
There are sequins and feathers galore on the horizon for the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, as Pro-Am present their 20th anniversary production of Jerry Herman's glamorous musical, La Cage Aux Folles.
This has to be one of the most heart-warming, poignant shows of all, telling the tale of Georges' struggle to convince the somewhat conservative parents of his prospective daughter-in-law that he and his lover, Albin, are in fact a normal couple, living a normal life, when in fact they own a gay nightclub where Albin is the star performer!
Sounds like a hoot? Believe me it is! This is one of my favourites and probably one of the most ambitious for amateurs to take one.
Jerry Hobbs, deputy chairman to the Board of Trustees at Compton Hospice and Rotary Club of Wolverhampton member, has spent many years raising funds for local charities, including a staggering £35,000 towards the £60,000 required for a private suite at Compton Hospice's Patient Unit.
The group are on target to raise a further £5,000 from this performance, so I would urge everyone to go along and support them.
Formed back in 1992, by Jerry, Pro-Am have joined forces with Stourbridge Amateur Operatic Society for this version of La Cage, in the very capable hands of director and choreographer, Steve Bracey and Mike Capri, together with fourteen local musicians under the musical direction of Jonathon Hill.
North Staffs Operatic Society member, Tony O'Rouke played the original Albin twenty years ago and will reprise the role for this production, while Jerry Hobbs plays his partner, Georges. Keeping it in the family, Tony's son Sam will appear as one of the alluring Les Cagelles, with Donovan Christian Cary as the totally outrageous character Jacob, who really cannot decide if he is a butler or a maid (get the picture?).
This show is a perfect example of musical comedy, with plenty of laughs and a wonderful score including showstoppers such as I Am What I Am, The Best of Times and Song on the Sand.
La Cage is running for just four performances - from Thursday, February 23, to Saturday, February 25 - so book early. For tickets, call the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre box office on 01902 429212.
The amount of money amateur performers raise each year never ceases to amaze me. Sheila Smith from Telford is cycling from Panama to Nicaragua, no less than 270 miles, later this year to raise funds for the Genesis Research Trust, who fund research into generic diseases, miscarriage, premature birth, brain damage and cancer.
Sheila is also holding three charity concerts for the cause, the first of which is on February 19 at Little Highbury Theatre in Sutton. Well-known local amateur performers are taking part, including opera singer Joe Johnson, flutist Adrian Peakman, and Sheila's own family on guitars. Tickets are £10 each, available on 01952 501789 or email peter.smith261@btinternet.com
Over in Shropshire, the Market Drayton Amdramers are about to perform Alice in Wonderland at the Festival Drayton Centre from February 15-18 at 7.30pm nightly with a 2.30pm matinee on Saturday.
The local audience will recognise Dennis Furnival and Dan Cummings as the comedy duo, Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee and Cerys Whitfield will appear in her first principal role as Alice.
Also making his debut is Nick Wall as the dame. Apparently there will be audience participation too, in good old traditional panto style.
With several members of the Junior Theatre Workshop also taking part, this promises to be an uplifting, exciting production, suitable for all the family.
For tickets, priced at £7.50-£6.50, or £23 for a family of two adults and two children, call 01630 654444.
Wolverhampton Musical Comedy Company is busy in rehearsal for their forthcoming production of Half a Sixpence, which they will perform at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from March 13-17. Muscom as the group are affectionately known, have a considerable amount of younger members and therefore the show they have chosen for 2013 is absolutely perfect – Footloose.
With high energy dance numbers and popular music, it promises to be a complete contrast to Half a Sixpence with its traditional boy meets girl and falls in love storyline.
That said, Half a Sixpence is a delightful musical with an abundance of small roles, so something for everyone, a wonderful score including If The Rain's Gotta Fall and of course the title song, reminding us of a much simpler time in life.
Muscom have also recently presented a cheque for £400 to their President, Jerry Hobbs, for the Help the Heroes campaign - yet another example of am dram performers supporting charity. Well done guys.
For tickets for Half a Sixpence, call 01902 429212 or visit www.muscom-operatic.co.uk
Well that's all for this week. Remember to email me all your news and photos to a.norton@expressandstar.co.uk or call me on 01902 319662.
Break a leg!
