UK Theatre Network

Over The Rainbow: The Eva Cassidy Story

VIP CHARITY LUNCH

By the time of her death, Eva Cassidy was unknown outside Washington but, within four years, Terry Wogan discovered and promoted her haunting interpretation of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ to the top of the chart. The life of this wonderfully talented and spiritual song stylist was, tragically, cut short at the premature age of 33 years as a result of skin cancer.

To coincide with the seventh sensational UK tour of the award-winning and compelling musical, Over The Rainbow: The Eva Cassidy Story, which journeys through Eva’ s life, Franco’s Terrace Bar & Restaurant in association with Theatre Productions Limited are delighted to announce that they will be holding an exclusive VIP Charity Lunch to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The event is to take place on Wednesday 12^th October from 12 noon until 2.30pm. Upon arrival, guests will be greeted with a complimentary glass of bubbly. In addition to enjoying a two course Italian meal of the finest quality, followed by coffee and mints, in the resplendent surroundings of Franco’s - with its glamorous chandeliers, candlelit tables, Italian baroque furniture, and Swarovski crystal studded seating - guests will also be treated to an afternoon of fantastic entertainment, compèred by the North East’s very own Steve Walls, an entertainer who has made a huge impact in his native region, and much further afield, and is now widely regarded as one of the UK’s top compères.

The stars of Over The Rainbow: The Eva Cassidy Story will also be attending and guests will have an opportunity to meet and mingle with Sarah Jane Buckley (Hollyoaks) who leads the cast as Eva Cassidy, Maureen Nolan (The Naked Truth, Blood Brothers and The Nolans) who takes on the role of Barbara Cassidy, Strictly Come Dancing sensation Brian Fortuna, who will be making his eagerly-anticipated acting debut as Danny Cassidy and other members of the company. Sarah Jane Buckley will also give an exclusive live performance of some of Eva Cassidy’s best-loved numbers.

A charity raffle will also be drawn and guests will have the chance to win fabulous prizes from a selection of luxury goods which have kindly been donated by a number of companies including Clay’s Garden Centre and Villeroy & Boch.

As if all that were not enough, the VIP Charity Lunch price also includes a ticket to see that evening’s performance of Over The Rainbow: The Eva Cassidy Story at The Playhouse, Whitley Bay, at 7.30pm.

Judith Graziani of Franco’s Terrace Bar & Restaurant said: “Few of us go through life without being touched by cancer in some way and it is vital that we support charities such as Macmillan Cancer Care. This fantastic Over The Rainbow VIP Charity Lunch is a very worthwhile way of continuing our ongoing commitment to holding charity events here at Franco’s.”

Stephen Leatherland, the producer and director of Over The Rainbow: The Eva Cassidy Story, added: “The show is intended to be a truthful, heartfelt tribute to Eva’s life and talents and this VIP Charity Lunch is also a wonderful way of raising money for such a worthy cause.”

Tickets for this unmissable event are priced at only £25 per person, which includes a donation of £5 to Macmillan Cancer Support. Places are strictly limited and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. All tickets must be purchased in advance, as there will be no provision to purchase on the door.

For further information or to make a booking, please contact Steve Burbridge, Press & Marketing Officer for Theatre Productions Ltd on 07986 142 281 or e-mail steveburbridge@blueyonder.co.uk 

 Theatre Productions Limited is proud to announce the seventh sensational UK tour of Over The Rainbow: The Eva Cassidy Story. Since its first performance in 2004, this compelling musical play has received rapturous receptions and inspired cathartic outpourings of emotion.

 This is the poignant and moving story of Washington-born singer Eva Cassidy. By the time of her death, she was unknown outside Washington but within four years Terry Wogan discovered and promoted her haunting interpretation of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ to the top of the chart.

 This  sad but uplifting musical play journeys through her life, from her idyllic childhood growing up in a musical family, to her studio work with boyfriend and mentor Chris Biondo; to the exuberant live recording of Blues Alley and finally to her tragically premature death at the age of only 33 years.

 Featuring a truly talented all-star cast of performers and musicians, Over The Rainbow: The Eva Cassidy Story is an award-winning musical that captures the qualities of this wonderfully talented and spiritual song stylist. Not since Blood Brothers has a musical received such an emotional response, with sell-out performances and standing ovations throughout the UK and Ireland.

 Over The Rainbow: The Eva Cassidy Story has already wowed audiences all over Europe and includes more than 27 of her best-loved songs, recreated by a multi-talented cast of West End performers, including unforgettable classics such as Fields of Gold, Songbird, Autumn Leaves, Kathy’s Song and many more.

 SARAH JANE BUCKLEY (Hollyoaks) stars as Eva Cassidy, whilst MAUREEN NOLAN (Blood Brothers; The Nolans) takes on the role of Barbara Cassidy, Eva’s mother, and BRIAN FORTUNA (Strictly Come Dancing) makes his eagerly anticipated acting debut as Danny Cassidy, Eva’s brother. Accomplished West End actor ROBERT GROSE (The Lion King; Starlight Express & Five Guys Named Moe) plays larger-than-life legend, Chuck Brown.

 More than a musical life-story, Over The Rainbow: The Eva Cassidy Story is a show for anyone who has lost someone they love. A thoroughly entertaining and a truly memorable experience.

 For full tour details, including dates and venues, visit the website at www.theatre-productions.com .

 What the press say:

 “An unmissable evening for Eva’s fans” - Peterborough Evening Telegraph

 “Cassidy’s final public performance closed with What a Wonderful World as did this tribute and though infused with lyrics of optimism, tears flowed throughout the auditorium. Thus, demonstrating live theatre is most powerful when it has the ability to reach out and touch the heart of its audience” - Grimsby Telegraph

 “Simply wonderful . . . a beautiful show” – Northern Chronicle

 “Spontaneous standing ovation for Eva Cassidy musical” – Waterford News

 “Fantastic performances all round” – Hull Daily Mail

Get ready for the start of something new! The stage production based on the Disney Channel Original Movie, High School Musical, live on stage for a strictly limited run.

Prepare yourself for the chance to see your favourite movie brought to life, this show is everything you love about the movie, with the added fun of the theatre!

Watch the twists and turns of the loveable schoolmates, Troy, super-popular captain of the basketball team and Gabriella, super-smart transfer student and a genius in science class, as they surf the tricky tides of peer pressure and canteen cliques to follow their dreams and score leads in the big school production – and a place in each other’s hearts.

 

High School Musical live on stage features all of your favourite movie characters and songs, together with two BRAND NEW numbers, performed by some of the region’s most talented musical theatre students.

Jamie Gray, Managing Director for Nice Swan Theatre Company, said: ‘We are excited to be bringing this well-loved show to the Playhouse this year as an extra summer treat for the region. We have an amazingly talented team working on the production and it definitely is a one not to miss!’

Alex Proudlock, Musical Director for the show, added: ‘This production of High School Musical on Stage lives up to the Disney films and is family fun at its best. The music is full of ‘high’ energy and is packed full of different styles and genres. Most definitely a tap your toe production!’

High School Musical comes ahead of Nice Swan Theatre Company’s revival of the classic musical West Side Story at The People’s Theatre this September. The show comes to Whitley Bay Playhouse  for three performances only. Prepare for breathtaking choreography, stunning voices, and a ‘West End quality’ musical extravaganza this summer!

Tickets cost only £8 Adults and £7 Concessions (special family offer for £24 – 2 adults/2 children) and are available from the Playhouse box office on 0844 277 2771 or online www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk BOOK NOW!

The ‘Calendar Girls’ set a record-breaking date in the Civic Theatre’s History

A star-studded cast has set a box office record at one of the North East's major theatres.

Calendar Girls, which has been playing all week and continues until tomorrow has entertained capacity crowds at Darlington’s Civic Theatre and has been the most successful drama in the theatre’s 104 year history!

Over 6,500 theatre-goers have laughed and cried at this inspirational show, which is based on the true story of 12 extraordinary members of the Women’s Institute who give their annual calendar a very untraditional twist to raise money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research and spark a global phenomenon in the process.

The cast is headed by Lesley Joseph, one of Britain’s best-loved actresses, who plays Chris Harper, the ebullient driving force behind the calendar idea. She said: ‘It’s a fantastic true story. It is funny because things have changed a lot, theatrically. A lot of these plays deal with female issues and invite a whole new audience into theatres, which is fantastic.’

 

The line-up also brings together some of the best-known actresses in the British entertainment industry, including sitcom stalwarts Ruth Madoc (Hi-de-Hi) and Sue Holderness (Only Fools and Horses), soap stars Kacey Ainsworth (EastEnders) and Deena Payne (Emmerdale), Helen Fraser (Bad Girls) and Strictly Come Dancing sensation Camilla Dallerup.

 

Ironically, the success of Calendar Girls comes at a time when the theatre’s future remains uncertain. Darlington Borough Council has advertised the town centre venue for sale as a going concern on a long leasehold basis.

 The council warned last year that it may have to close the theatre's doors because of cuts in Government grants unless a new operator came forward.

In January, the authority's ruling cabinet group gave the theatre - as well as the towns Arts Centre - a stay of execution.

The cabinet also agreed to seek expressions of interest from organisations interested in buying the 893-seat traditional Edwardian theatre to be leased at a peppercorn rent.

The council asked for approaches to be made in writing by February 28.

It is also believed to have already been in contact with two companies who could take over the theatre, one of which is believed to be Qdos Entertainment Group, which runs the annual pantomime in Darlington, through its HQ Theatres division.

Qdos chairman Nick Thomas said: ‘Having produced the pantomime for 25 years and many other shows at Darlington Civic Theatre, we hold the venue in very high esteem and hope to continue our relationship. Qdos has a pantomime contract for the 2012 pantomime season, so obviously it is very important to us that the theatre's future is secured.’

A council spokeswoman said: ‘Our priority is not capital receipt, but ensuring we secure a provider who will continue to provide a high quality programme at the theatre.’

Darlington Civic Theatre, which was originally known as The New Hippodrome & Palace of Varieties, was formally opened on Monday September 2 1907. Its first Managing Director was Signor Rino Pepi, an Italian ex patriot who was originally a quick-change artist (or protean) and impersonator, whose love of theatre took him into a management career. George F Ward of Owen and Ward of Birmingham, a firm specialising in theatre building, designed the theatre and Owen and Ward were responsible for the building of the theatre. It is constructed from local Middlesbrough red brick with terracotta dressings. Above the Parkgate entrance is a 64foot high pyramid-roofed tower (housing a water tank) that gives the theatre’s distinctive appearance and was used to provide high-pressure water for aquatic scenes that were popular at the time. The ornamental canopy is a replica of the original iron and glass structure, which was destroyed by a traffic accident in the 1960s.

The theatre flourished during the 20 years Signor Pepi ran it but following his death in November 1927, its future became uncertain. Competition from cinema became a real threat and a succession of different managers struggled to balance the books. Indeed at one stage the theatre was equipped with a film projection box at the rear of the Upper Circle, this can be seen above the name on Borough Road side of the building. In 1966 after much hard work and enthusiasm from members of the community, especially Darlington Operatic Society, the Borough Council of Darlington assumed full financial, administrative and artistic responsibility for the theatre on behalf of the town. The ‘New Hippodrome’ became officially known as Darlington Civic Theatre.

WEST SIDE STORY LAUNCH NIGHT IN

CONJUNCTION WITH ‘AS YOU LIKE IT’, JESMOND

AND COMPANY DEVELOPMENT.

Nice Swan Theatre Company revives WEST SIDE STORY as part of its on-going mission to regenerate the regions amateur theatre.

Fresh from the successful run of Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’ at the Peoples’ Theatre, Nice  Swan Theatre Company were not resting on their laurels the following day but launching their most ambitious project to date; ‘West Side Story’. Over sixty young talents from across the area auditioned and a cast of 24 were selected. They met rather ironically in conjunction with As You Like It in Jesmond to mingle with the management and start a process that will have them working tirelessly for the next 6 months.

The theatre company has quickly gained a reputation for edgy, professional performances that have audiences laughing one minute and crying the next. Their vision for ‘West Side Story’ is no different. The classic musical based upon the ideas of William Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ tells the story of the forbidden love between two rival gang members ‘Tony’ and ‘Maria’, a story that encompasses passion, comedy and tragedy. With well known numbers such as ‘I Feel Pretty’, ‘Tonight’ and ‘Somewhere’, it has thrilled audiences for generations and with Nice Swan’s inimitable style the hope is that it will continue to speak to original fans plus a new generation of theatre goers with a promising production this year. 

It has been this ‘new generation’ that has been at the forefront of Nice Swan Theatre Company’s aim since its conception in 2008. Creators Ben Hunt (22) and Jamie Gray (21) envisioned a company that could offer a stepping stone between amateur and professional theatre to students in the region. A three pronged approach of productions, workshop classes and event participation has certainly made this possible and developed the group beyond all expectations in only a short period of time.

Their production of ‘Rent’ in 2009, the North East premiere of ‘Spring Awakening’ in 2010 and ‘As YouLike It’ in 2011 have been showered with praise from the critics but, more importantly to the team, have given opportunities to many youngsters aged 16-25 in the region. Spring Awakening was reviewed to have ‘Standards of a production on London’s West End’ by Steve Burbridge, a critic from nationwide UK Theatre Network. The audition processes have allowed more than 150 youngsters to experience a taste of the demands of the acting profession and those that have gone on to star in the shows have been a part of an amateur group that really expects professional standards at every level. The technical aspects of the productions have also been implemented by local students, and from direction to sound and lighting design and operation, more than 20 students have been involved and now have impressive experience to add to their resume. The fact that productions carried out on a solely voluntary level shows just how committed every person involved has been.

 In the past year the company has branched out even further using their success and enthusiasm to hone the talents of even younger students. They presently hold weekly workshop classes for 10-15 year olds taking them through every aspect of acting and musical theatre in order to challenge and push them. The fact that the younger students are learning from a team of passionate people not only builds their confidence but gives them positive role models that can inspire and convince them that there are opportunities for young people with dreams and determination in the North East.

Community has always been important to the company and involvement in events such as the Gateshead Arts Festival, Metro Centre Christmas Launch and Gateshead Summer Flower Festival have given them the opportunity to give something back to a region that has supported them. The growth of the company in just three years really proves the adage that ‘anything is possible’ and dispels the myth that young people these days are apathetic and reticent to work hard. 

Managing Director, Jamie Gray ‘I am very excited about the ideas that Artistic Director, Ben Hunt has for West Side Story, it is certainly going to be something special and I am proud to be producing the show during the Peoples Theatre Centenary year.’

Cast Member Jessica Brady ‘I was honoured and delighted to be cast as ANITA in West Side Story. It truly is a dream come true not just because of the part, but because I get to work once again with some of the most amazingly talented people. It promises to be a spectacular show in September’.

‘West Side Story’ will open at the Peoples’ Theatre in September and is promised to be yet another unmissable experience. Tickets will be on sale from May 2011.

For more details of the company, past productions, workshops and upcoming events see   www.niceswan.com