Carousel casting complete

There has been much excitement this week at my home company, South Staffs Musical Theatre Company, as we completed the casting of our latest production, the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic musical, Carousel, which we will perform at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from October 8-12.

The lead male role of the Carousel Barker, Billy Bigelow, is played by the incredibly talented and handsome Tye Harris, with 19-year-old Laura Evans in the role of love interest, Julie Jordan and the amazing soprano, Sheila Wood as Netty Fowler who has the enviable opportunity to sing the uplifting and emotional number, "You'll Never Walk Alone". South Staffs fans will remember Sheila as the Mother Abyss in our 2012 production of The Sound of Music and agree that her voice simply brings the house down.

South Staffs Musical is also performing a Spring concert, entitled Musical Mayhem, at Tettenhall College Towers Theatre, on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th May. The concert includes songs from Wicked, Chicago, Martin Guerre, Rent and a whole host of other musical theatre favourites. Tickets are £10, which includes a fish and chip supper and a bar is available. Contact 01902 753037 or 07886194144.

Otherwise, it's a dramatic week across the area, with something for absolutely everyone.

Attfield Theatre from Oswestry is performing Jim Cartwright's two-hander, aptly entitled "Two" from May 20-25 at Guildhall. The action takes place in a working-class pub in northern England, peeking into the lives of a hard-drinking landlord and his flirtatious landlady, as well as a host of unusual customers who flood through their doors. It must be hard work playing all the roles, but enjoyable nonetheless. For tickets priced at £6 each, call 01691 680222, Monday to Friday between 9am-5pm or email kath.evans@btinet.bt.com

If you like something to really get your teeth into, The Nonentities, who perform at the Rose Theatre in Kidderminster are presenting Dracula (pardon the pun!) from May 20-25.

Liz Lochhead who adapted the story for stage said, "What really attracted me to the story was the number one rule for becoming a vampire victim – first of all you have to invite him in!" Sounds horrible, but then we all have a hankering for macabre don't we? For tickets, contact 01562 743745 or visit www.rosetheatre.co.uk

There are some excellent performances by graduating students at the moment and over at the Lichfield Garrick from May 21-22, you can catch a production of The Wedding Singer by South Staffordshire College. Seventeen-year-old Daniel Roberts from Tamworth plays the title role, with Jessie Morris from Lichfield appearing as the object of his affections, Julia.

Head of Performing Arts at the college and director/choreographer of the piece said: "Our production plays tribute to the Broadway version, whilst also giving our students the chance to reach out into the community." Peppered with a variety of 1980's tunes, romance and fun, The Wedding Singer is a delight. For tickets priced at £10 each, call 01543 412121 or visit www.lichfieldgarrick.com

'Allo, 'Allo has to be one of the funniest comedy plays for amateurs to perform. Who cannot laugh at the hapless cafe owner, Rene, his overbearing wife Edith and the ridiculous British airmen? From May 22-25, Charlemont Dramatic Society, who perform at Pennyhill Primary School in West Bromwich, will be presenting 'Allo, 'Allo under the instruction of director Sylvia Hill. This is the largest production this award-winning group has undertaken for many years, with a cast of 17, plus extras. David Hill appears as Rene, with Jemma Webster as Edith and new member, 14-year-old Aidan Cutler as Lieutenant Gruber. For a good old laugh and tickets at just £7.50 contact Eric Stott on 0121 308 1597.

Finally this week, the Lichfield Players who perform at the Garrick Theatre, have taken to the trenches of World War One to prepare for their forthcoming production of My Boy Jack on May 21-25. Members of the cast visited a real trench at the Staffordshire Regiment Museum in order to get a real feel for the conditions these brave men lived in.

This moving story tells the tale of Rudyard Kipling's son, Jack, who he sent to fight despite his failing eyesight. Rudyard is then forced to question his motives and suffer the conflict between duty and love.

For ticket priced at £10-£7 contact 01543 412121 or visit www.lichfieldgarrick.com.

That's all for this week. Keep those emails coming to a.norton@expressandstar.co.uk Break a leg!