In Dreams, a new juke-box musical from the creators of & Juliet will premiere at Leeds Playhouse in 2023.
The new musical will use the music of Roy Orbison to tell an original story about a female singer. The show reunites & Juliet script writer David West Read, who also wrote on TV series Schitt’s Creek, and director Luke Sheppard.
West Read said: “It is a tremendous honour to be premiering our new musical In Dreamsat Leeds Playhouse, which has developed a reputation for introducing innovative and inspirational work created by artists from around the world.
“When I was growing up in Canada, the iconic music of Roy Orbison was playing on repeat in my household, and it has been a lifelong ambition of mine to build a contemporary musical around his classic songs. To bring this show to the Leeds audience, in this theatre, in this moment, is quite literally a dream come true.”
The show will explore love and loss “through an optimistic lens” he added, with an account of “friendship and the power of music to bring people together and help them through difficult times”.
The idea of a biographical musical had been floated by West Read said he “didn’t want to see someone doing their best Roy Orbison impression” on stage. It is hoped audiences will find a new found appreciation of Roy Orbison’s songs through this original show in the similar vein to Girl From The North Country which uses Bob Dylan’s music. In Dreams will use about 20 songs from Orbison’s catalogue with some played straight and others used to weave a fictional plot similar to musicals & Juliet and Mamma Mia!
Casting has yet to be revealed.
In Dreams will run from 1 July 2023 until 5 August 2023 at Leeds Playhouse.
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