Showing posts with label Jason Donovan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jason Donovan. Show all posts

Tuesday, 14 February 2017

Million Dollar Quartet

Image Source: Backstage Pass
Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Musical
Genre: Musical
Date: February 13 2017
Location: Liverpool Empire Theatre

A show about Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins sounds like one hell of a night of musical entertainment, with tons of classic hits and dance moves to keep one's attention. As it turns out, Million Dollar Quartet takes a different approach with these four huge names; but don't despair, because the show remains a very enjoyable night at the theatre.

Million Dollar Quartet looks back at Tuesday December 4 1956, a night when the aforementioned names all happened to be at the Sun Records studios in Memphis, Tennessee on the same night, but for different reasons. After a quick opening number of Blue Suede Shoes, the story is told by Sam Phillips (the owner of Sun Records, played by Jason Donovan), and one-by-one, the mega-stars arrive. First to arrive is Lewis (Ashley Carruthers), who at the time wasn't well-known but quickly makes his presence felt through a combination of his obvious musical talents and his overbearing, occasionally rude nature. Next in is Perkins (Matthew Wycliffe), who is coming to record what he hopes will be his next big hit, but who doesn't take kindly to the somewhat annoying Lewis.

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Thursday, 28 January 2016

Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert

Image Source: Liverpool Echo
Written By: Mark Armstrong

Format: Musical
Genre: Comedy
Date: January 25 2016
Location: Liverpool Empire Theatre

Sometimes, you will go to a number of theatre shows and find that some productions share similar traits, whether it be in the storyline or the style of humour used or even with key events within the plot. Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert is not one of those shows; this is a very unique production with outlandish characters and various, if at times confusing, storylines. However, this does not detract from one's enjoyment of the show.

Priscilla sees three drag queen performers travelling together on a bus across Australia. Along the way, they exchange risqué jokes aplenty; engage in situations involving new flings and unwanted strangers; provide love life revelations and receive threats about their own sexual persuasions; and perform musical numbers ranging from soft melodies to extravagant dance displays.

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Monday, 17 August 2015

Full casting announced for Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

David Ian Productions and the Ambassador Theatre Group are delighted to announce the full cast for the UK tour of the international smash-hit musical Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert, which plays at the Liverpool Empire from Monday January 25 to Saturday January 30 2016.

Joining the previously announced Jason Donovan, who reprises the role of Tick, are Simon Green as Bernadette, Adam Bailey as Felicia and Philip Childs as Bob.

Simon Green’s most recent stage credits include Bruce Ismay in Titanic, both in Toronto and at the Southwark Playhouse; The World Goes Round at the Union Theatre and Monsieur André in The Phantom Of The Opera on tour. Adam Bailey most recently appeared as Espresso in the German production of Starlight Express. His other theatre credits include Mary Sunshine in Chicago at Leicester Curve and Alan in Bare at the Greenwich Theatre. Philip Childs played the role of Bob on the 2013 tour of Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert. He is currently appearing as Doctor Dillamond in Wicked at the Apollo Victoria. Other recent theatre credits include Alan Bennett’s People and The Habit Of Art at the National Theatre.

Jason Donovan played the role of Tick when the show originally opened in the West End and its subsequent tour in 2013. His other West End credits include the title role in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. His touring credits include Captain Von Trapp in The Sound Of Music and Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Show and most recently Lionel Logue in The King’s Speech. His television credits include Neighbours and Echo Beach. He was also a finalist in ITV’s smash-hit I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! and reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing.

They are joined by Richard Astbury; Rebecca Botterill; Matt Crandon; Peter Cumins; Amy Di Bartolomeo; Martin Harding; Lisa-Marie Holmes; Ricky Lee Loftus; Adam Lyons; Callum MacDonald; Laura Mansell; Catherine Mort; James Paul McAllister; Robin Mills; Craig Ryder; Naomi Slights and Julie Yammanee.

Get ready for the ride of your life! Based on the movie, Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert - The Musical is the heart-warming, uplifting adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship and end up finding more than they could have ever dreamed of. With a dazzling array of outrageous costumes and a hit parade of dancefloor classics including I Will Survive, Say A Little Prayer, Go West, Hot Stuff, Boogie Wonderland and Always On My Mind, this wildly fresh and funny new musical is a journey to the heart of FABULOUS!

Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert - The Musical originally opened in Australia and after a sell-out two year run, opened in London’s West End followed by Broadway in the United States. It has won numerous awards all over the world, including prestigious Olivier and Tony awards.

Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert - The Musical is written by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott and Directed by Simon Phillips. The Associate Director is Dean Bryant. Choreography is by Andrew Hallsworth and Ross Coleman; Musical Arrangements, Direction and Supervision by Stephen ‘Spud’ Murphy and Charlie Hull; Production Design by Brian Thomson, Costume Design by Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner; Make-Up Design by Cassie Hanlon; Original Lighting Designs by Nick Schlieper and Original Sound Design by Michael Waters.

Wednesday, 17 June 2015

Jason Donovan to play Tick in Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert

Written By: Mark Armstrong

Provided By: Liverpool Empire Theatre

David Ian Productions and the Ambassador Theatre Group are delighted to announce that Jason Donovan will play the role of Tick in the UK tour of the international smash hit musical Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert, which plays at the Liverpool Empire from Monday January 25-Saturday January 30 2016.

Jason Donovan reprises the role of Tick, the part he played when the show originally opened in the West End and its subsequent tour in 2013. He has had a hugely successful and varied career as both an actor and world-wide recording artist, selling over 13 million albums to date. As well as Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert, his other West End credits include the title role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. His touring credits include Captain Von Trapp in The Sound Of Music, Frank N Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, the title role in John Doyle’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd and The Artilleryman in The War Of The Worlds. He can currently be seen as Lionel Logue in The King’s Speech. His television credits include Neighbours and Echo Beach. He was also a finalist in ITV’s smash hit I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! and reached the final of Strictly Come Dancing.

Get ready for the ride of your life! Based on the movie, Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert - The Musical is the heart-warming, uplifting adventure of three friends who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship and end up finding more than they could have ever dreamed of. With a dazzling array of outrageous costumes and a hit parade of dance-floor favourites including It’s Raining Men, Say A Little Prayer, Go West, Hot Stuff and Always On My Mind, this wildly fresh and funny new musical is a journey to the heart of Fabulous!

Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert - The Musical originally opened in Australia and after a sell-out two year run, opened in London’s West End followed by Broadway in the United States. It has won numerous awards all over the world, including prestigious Olivier and Tony awards.

For further details, visit www.priscillathemusical.com.