1960’s Music Legend Mark Wynter To Join The Cast Of The West End’s Favourite Rock N Roll Musical Dreamboats And Petticoats At Wyndham’s Theatre Only Until 19 January 2012

One of the biggest pop stars of the early 60’s will sing his hits on the London stage for the first time in 50 years!

Mark Wynter, whose many hits started in 1960 with his top ten version of “Image of a Girl”, will join the cast of “Dreamboats and Petticoats” at the Wyndham’s theatre from Tuesday 20 November.

Mark was hardly out of the charts from August 1960 until the end of 1963, during which time he had nine singles chart hits and spent an extraordinary 80 weeks in the hit parade.

In the mid 60’s pop star Mark made his debut in the musical “Phil the Fluter”, at London’s Palace Theatre and, in his words, fell in love with performing “book” musicals. He never returned to pop music, but went on to have real success in musicals such as “Charlie Girl”, “Phantom of the Opera”, “Cats”, “South Pacific” “Barnum”, and many more, mixing them with a dramatic career that started when he starred in Barry England’s “Conduct Unbecoming” at the Queens Theatre. His movies include….. “Just for Fun”, “The Haunted House of Horrors” and “Red”.

Despite yearly offers, Mark has never joined his fellow Hit Parade stars of pop’s favourite era, and gone out in any of the hugely successful 60’s revival tours. “My career as an actor just took up too much of my time” he says “And to be honest, I was never really interested in having my 20 minutes in the spotlight on a revival show singing my hits.”

Until now! When Mark says he gets the best of both worlds! At the request of his fan and friend Bill Kenwright he will join the cast of Britain’s favourite rock ‘n roll musical “Dreamboats and Petticoats” – this time playing the father of a wannabe pop star!

However, every night for the finale of the show he will become Mark Wynter, and for the first time in five decades sing his hits including of course the legendary “Venus in Blue Jeans” Goffin and Kings “Go Away Little Girl” and his 1963 revival of The Dreamweaver’s “Its Almost Tomorrow”.

Release issued by: Target Live

LINKS

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Photos: Dreamboats and Petticoats at the Wyndham’s Theatre

Production photos of musical Dreamboats and Petticoats at the Wyndham’s Theatre in London.

The Dreamboats and Petticoats series of albums have sold millions of copies (they are now up to the sixth compilation) and have proved that the pop and rock ‘n’ roll music of the Fifties and Sixties remains hugely popular to older audiences keen to hear music from their teenage years.

Bill Kenwright’s successful jukebox stage show based on the music from the albums has proved no less popular, with a number of West End stints and UK tours behind it, and now a residency at London’s Wyndham’s Theatre.

With a story by award-winning comedy writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran (Birds Of A Feather), Dreamboats and Petticoats features a talented cast that includes Sam Attwater (EastEnders) as Norman, David Ribi as Bobby, Susannah Allman as Sue, Samantha Dorrance as Laura, and David Cardy as Phil and Older Bobby.

Photos by Roy Tan.

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BOOKING

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Dreamboats and Petticoats – Save up to 59% off tickets

Save up to 59% on tickets to see Dreamboats and Petticoats at the Wyndham’s Theatre in London.

Enjoy a special offer on the smash-hit West End musical Dreamboats and Petticoats.

The show has played to over 2 million people since it premiered in 2009 and is based on the multi-million selling albums DREAMBOATS AND PETTICOATS.

Dreamboats and Petticoats features some of the greatest songs of the Rock ‘n’ Roll era, including Let’s Dance, To Know Him Is To Love Him, Shaking All Over, Bobby’s Girl, Little Town Flirt, Only Sixteen, Runaround Sue, Happy Birthday Sweet 16, Let It Be Me, Great Pretender, C’mon Everybody and Let’s Twist Again.

The show’s story in set in the 1960′s and is written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, the team behind Goodnight Sweetheart, Birds of a Feather and Shine On Harvey Moon.

A fantastic feel-good night out for everyone.

SPECIAL OFFER: Enjoy up to 59% off tickets to see the show, valid for selected performances.

 

Dreamboats and Petticoats at the Wyndham’s Theatre

Classic 60s rock ‘n’ roll tunes are the inspiration behind this crowd-pleasing  musical from Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran (Birds Of A Feather).

Dreamboats and Petticoats is back in the West End following its packed runs at the Savoy and Playhouse theatres and a number of hugely successful UK tours.

Inspired by the smash hit, multi-million selling Dreamboats and Petticoats albums, the show features some of the greatest hit songs of the Rock ‘n’ Roll era including Bobby’s Girl, Shaking All Over, Three Steps To Heaven, Only Sixteen, Let’s Twist Again, At The Hop, The Wanderer and many more.

Set in 1961, emotions are running high as young musicians Norman and Bobby compete to win a national song writing competition – and, more importantly, the attention of the gorgeous Sue! But when Bobby discovers that shy Laura is no slouch on the piano, love and rock ‘n’ roll fame beckons.

Featuring over 40 pop hits from the fifties and sixties, Dreamboats and Petticoats is the feel-good musical to end them all.

A hugely talented cast includes Sam Attwater (EastEnders, Dancing on Ice) as Norman, David Ribi as Bobby, Susannah Allman as Sue, Samantha Dorrance as Laura, and Mark Wynter as Phil and Older Bobby.

REVIEWS

“Good, wholesome fun” Evening Standard

“Full of energy and packed full of toe-tapping hits” The Sun

“A fast and vastly entertaining jukebox compilation show” Sunday Express

“Great fun, as loud as you like, and the music is sublime” Sunday Mail

“A great, rockin’ evening” Express

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West End Live Timetable: Sunday 24 June 2012, Trafalgar Square

Back for its 8th year,  West End Live – the spectacular celebration of West End theatre – returns to Trafalgar Square and for the first time will feature every single West End musical over the two days of the event.

WEST END LIVE TIMETABLE

Sunday 24 June 2012, Trafalgar Square

Time on Stage	Show
12.00PM	STOMP
12.15PM	THE WIZARD OF OZ
12.25PM	SHREK THE MUSICAL
12.35PM	HAVANA RUMBA!
12.50PM	DISNEY’S THE LION KING
13.00PM	THRILLER LIVE
13.25PM	ROCK OF AGES
13.35PM	BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL
13.40PM	MATILDA THE MUSICAL
13.50PM	HORRIBLE HISTORIES
14.05PM	EVERYTHING’S ROSIE
14.10PM	MAMMA MIA!
14.25PM	LOUISE DEARMAN
14.40PM	MARK EVANS
14.55PM	ALEX GAUMOND
15.05PM	DANIEL BOYS
15.15PM	JERSEY BOYS
15.40PM	ANGELINA BALLERINA THE MOUSICAL
15.55PM	BIG ZUMBA DANCE
16.10PM	MARK JERMIN STAGE SCHOOL
16.25PM	WEST END KIDS
16.40PM	THE IN-BETWEEN
16.55PM	NATIONAL YOUTH MUSIC THEATRE
17.10PM	WEST END GOSPEL CHOIR
17.30PM	CONGO FAITH HEALERS
18.00PM	SHOW ENDS

LINKS

West End Live 2012 – Timetable for Saturday 23 June 2012

Photos of last year’s West End Live event

West End Live Timetable: Saturday 23 June 2012, Trafalgar Square

Back for its 8th year,  West End Live – the spectacular celebration of West End theatre – returns to Trafalgar Square and for the first time will feature every single West End musical over the two days of the event.

WEST END LIVE TIMETABLE

Saturday 23 June 2012, Trafalgar Square

Time on Stage	Show
11.00AM	TOP HAT
11.10AM	RAGTIME
11.20AM	WICKED
11.35AM	BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL
11.45AM	SWEENEY TODD
11.50AM	SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN
12.00PM	THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
12.10PM	LES MISERABLES
12.25PM	GHOST THE MUSICAL
12.35PM	CHICAGO
12.50PM	WE WILL ROCK YOU
13.10PM	MAMMA MIA!
13.25PM	JERSEY BOYS
13.45PM	ROCK OF AGES
14.05PM	THRILLER LIVE
14.25PM	BLOOD BROTHERS
14.35PM	DREAMBOATS & PETTICOATS
14.45PM	MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT
15.00PM	THE IN-BETWEEN
15.10PM	ANGELINA BALLERINA THE MOUSICAL
15.25PM	HORRIBLE HISTORIES
15.40PM	BIG ZUMBA DANCE
15.55PM	EVERYTHING’S ROSIE
16.05PM	SYLVIA YOUNG THEATRE SCHOOL
16.20PM	NATIONAL YOUTH MUSIC THEATRE
16.35PM	DAN AND LAURA CURTIS
16.50PM	BIG DANCE
17.05PM	DRAG DIVAS
17.15PM	THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET
17.30PM	ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS – THE CRAZE
17.45PM	STOMP
18.00PM	SHOW ENDS

 LINKS

West End Live 2012 – Timetable for Sunday 24 June 2012

Photos of last year’s West End Live event

West End Live 2012 timetable of performances announced

The timetable has been published for West End Live, the free annual theatre event that returns to London next weekend, on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 June 2012.

Back for its 8th year,  this spectacular celebration of West End shows returns to Trafalgar Square and for the first time will feature every single West End musical over the two days of the event.

West End musicals taking part in the weekend include new shows Top Hat, Ragtime, Singin’ in the Rain, Spamalot, Horrible Histories, One Man, Two Guvnors, Matilda The Musical and Sweeney Todd.

They will be joined by long-running shows including Rock of Ages, Ghost The Musical, The Wizard Of Oz, Shrek The Musical, Stomp, Mamma Mia!, Disney’s The Lion King, Billy Elliot, Jersey Boys, Thriller Live, Chicago, Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Blood Brothers, Dreamboats and Petticoats, and We Will Rock You.

Stars will be out in force for the event, with performances promised by some of the West End’s top talent including Ghost’s Mark Evans, We Will Rock You’s Alex Gaumond, West End favourites Louise Dearman and Daniel Boys, and the casts of all the top shows.

There will also be performances from the West End Gospel Choir, the National Youth Music Theatre, Drag Divas and much more.

Organised by Westminster City Council and the Society of London Theatre, in association with MasterCard, this year’s event will run from 11am to 6pm on Saturday 23 June and 12pm to 6pm on Sunday 24 June.

 WEST END LIVE TIMETABLE

Saturday 23 June 2012, Trafalgar Square

Time on Stage	Show
11.00AM	TOP HAT
11.10AM	RAGTIME
11.20AM	WICKED
11.35AM	BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL
11.45AM	SWEENEY TODD
11.50AM	SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN
12.00PM	THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
12.10PM	LES MISERABLES
12.25PM	GHOST THE MUSICAL
12.35PM	CHICAGO
12.50PM	WE WILL ROCK YOU
13.10PM	MAMMA MIA!
13.25PM	JERSEY BOYS
13.45PM	ROCK OF AGES
14.05PM	THRILLER LIVE
14.25PM	BLOOD BROTHERS
14.35PM	DREAMBOATS & PETTICOATS
14.45PM	MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT
15.00PM	THE IN-BETWEEN
15.10PM	ANGELINA BALLERINA THE MOUSICAL
15.25PM	HORRIBLE HISTORIES
15.40PM	BIG ZUMBA DANCE
15.55PM	EVERYTHING’S ROSIE
16.05PM	SYLVIA YOUNG THEATRE SCHOOL
16.20PM	NATIONAL YOUTH MUSIC THEATRE
16.35PM	DAN AND LAURA CURTIS
16.50PM	BIG DANCE
17.05PM	DRAG DIVAS
17.15PM	THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET
17.30PM	ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS – THE CRAZE
17.45PM	STOMP
18.00PM	SHOW ENDS

 

Sunday 24 June 2012, Trafalgar Square

Time on Stage	Show
12.00PM	STOMP
12.15PM	THE WIZARD OF OZ
12.25PM	SHREK THE MUSICAL
12.35PM	HAVANA RUMBA!
12.50PM	DISNEY’S THE LION KING
13.00PM	THRILLER LIVE
13.25PM	ROCK OF AGES
13.35PM	BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL
13.40PM	MATILDA THE MUSICAL
13.50PM	HORRIBLE HISTORIES
14.05PM	EVERYTHING’S ROSIE
14.10PM	MAMMA MIA!
14.25PM	LOUISE DEARMAN
14.40PM	MARK EVANS
14.55PM	ALEX GAUMOND
15.05PM	DANIEL BOYS
15.15PM	JERSEY BOYS
15.40PM	ANGELINA BALLERINA THE MOUSICAL
15.55PM	BIG ZUMBA DANCE
16.10PM	MARK JERMIN STAGE SCHOOL
16.25PM	WEST END KIDS
16.40PM	THE IN-BETWEEN
16.55PM	NATIONAL YOUTH MUSIC THEATRE
17.10PM	WEST END GOSPEL CHOIR
17.30PM	CONGO FAITH HEALERS
18.00PM	SHOW ENDS

LINKS

Photos of last year’s West End Live event

Des O’Connor makes debut in The Wizard of Oz

Des O’Connor has made his debut in The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium.

He received a standing ovation on Thursday for his performance as The Wizard in the show, starring alongside Sophie Evans as Dorothy.

Despite a record-breaking career that has included TV, movies and albums, Des had never performed in a West End show until his starring role last year in Dreamboats and Petticoats at the Playhouse Theatre.

And now Des is on a West End roll as he has returned to the London Palladium – a venue that he has played 1,284 times over his career but never as an actor – to star as the Wizard in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production of the classic show.

He told the Evening Standard that, “I may have done over 1,200 performances at the Palladium but I’m still in with a chance of winning best newcomer”.

LINKS

Book tickets to The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium

PHOTOS

Getty Images website: photos of Des O’Connor and Sophie Evans in The Wizard of Oz

 

DES O’CONNOR in The Wizard of Oz

Much-loved British entertainer Des O’Connor is joining the cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s spectacular new production of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium.

Despite a record-breaking career that has included TV, movies and albums, Des had never performed in a West End show until his starring role last year in Dreamboats and Petticoats at the Playhouse Theatre.

And now Des is on a West End roll as he returns to the London Palladium – a venue that he has played hundreds of times over his career but never as an actor – to star as the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz from 22 May 2012.

Star of stage, screen and music, Des was awarded the CBE in 2008 for his services to Entertainment and Broadcasting and is widely regarded as one of the UK’s best loved and most respected stars.

Since his first TV appearance in 1963 he has starred in his own shows for over 45 years – longer than anyone else anywhere in the world.

His most recent titles include the Des O’Connor Tonight specials, the award-winning ITV talk show Today with des and Mel and his interview this year on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories, which was the highest rated of the series.

He is also a hugely successful music and recording artist, having produced no less than 36 albums, selling over 16 million copies to date, and spending a staggering 117 weeks in the top ten of the charts.

On stage, Des has appeared at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, The Sydney Opera House and over 1,000 times at the London Palladium, but his appearance in Dreamboats will mark his first time ever in a West End musical.

Des O’Connor stars in The Wizard of Oz alongside Over The Rainbow runner-up Sophie Evans as Dorothy.

LINKS

Book tickets to The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium

Production photos: Des does Dreamboats at the Playhouse

Des O’Connor joins the cast of  of Dremaboats and Petticoats at the Playhouse Theatre in London

British showbiz legend Des O’Connor has made his official West End debut in Bill Kenwright musical Dreamboats and Petticoats at the Playhouse Theatre.

Despite a record-breaking career that has included TV, movies and albums, he has never performed in a West End show. He will be appearing as the ‘Older Bobby’ and ‘Phil – Bobby’s Dad’, who runs the youth club around which the Olivier Award nominated production is based, until 7 January 2012.

The parts have been adapted slightly to bring in more humour between him and his son, played in the show by Scott Bruton.

Dreamboats and Petticoats is inspired by the smash hit million+ selling albums, and features some of the greatest hit songs of the Rock ‘n’ Roll era. The show is written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, the team behind Goodnight Sweetheart, Birds of a Feather, The New Statesmen and Shine On Harvey Moon, and features songs from Roy Orbison, The Everly Brothers, Neil Sedaka, Eddie Cochran, Dion, Del Shannon and many more.

Photos by Roy Tan.

LINKS

SPECIAL OFFER: Save up to Half Price on tickets to Dremaboats and Petticoats at the Playhouse Theatre in London

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