Award-winning Coventry Musical Theatre Society proudly present 42nd Street, an Olivier and Tony Award winning song and dance spectacular with show-stopping tap numbers and some of the greatest songs ever written.

Peggy Sawyer is desperate to be a star but the road to Broadway never runs smoothly. With the leading lady suddenly unable to go on and the entire cast relying on her, can Peggy step in to finally live her dream and save the show?

Set in the glitz and glamour of the 1930’s with beloved songs such as We’re in the Money and Lullaby of Broadway, this timeless story of a journey from chorus girl to Broadway star is not to be missed.

Book now and take a trip with the whole family to a golden age of Musical Theatre. Not only that, until 31 January 2016 you can receive £4 off all tickets.

42nd Street plays at the Belgrade Theatre, Coventry from 23 - 25 June 2016. For more information and to book tickets click here or call box office on 02476 553 055.

Worcestershire based theatre company Starbuck Theatre Company are bringing a UK Premiere to the Norbury Theatre in Droitwich this February.  

The Guide To Being Single is a refreshing take on the contemporary musical, and follows on from the company’s successful mini tour of I Love You Because in 2015. 

The Guide To Being Single has previously only been performed in Chicago and in New York in July 2015 and this has allowed the company actors to not just take on new characters but to also originate them for a UK audience.

Artistic Director Sarah Pavlovs says:
"This has been such an exciting time for the company. This show has only been performed in two cities in America, and so to be given this opportunity to be the first company in the UK to stage this show is something extra special for us, and for Worcestershire. The writers, Alexi Kovin and Kaitlin Gilgenbach, have been hugely supportive from our first contact with them about doing the show, and Kaitlin is even flying over from Chicago to see it. There is a six piece band under the leadership of our MD Chris Corcoran, and the cast is made up of seven Midland’s based actors who are all tremendously talented and have been a joy to work with – we’ve had so many laughs in rehearsals and now we just can’t wait to share this new piece of theatre with an audience.’

With her company Sarah Pavlovs has wanted to bring new musical theatre to community venues at affordable prices so that a wider audience can get to hear and know new writers, without having to travel to the larger cities in the UK. The show is a musical comedy about unlucky in love twenty-somethings who conclude that the solution to their relationship problems is to stay single, as they mingle through the bars of Wrigleyville. “The Guide to Being Single,” a new book from an anonymous author, gives you twenty-five simple rules for screwing without getting screwed: You never call or text. You always go to their place. And most importantly, you never break the rules. But what if the fun of rules is breaking them? 

If you’ve ever been in love, fallen out of love, wanted to date or wanted to be single – this show is for you! The Guide To Being Single runs at the Norbury Theatre from 18 - 20 February, for more information and to book tickets call 01905 770154 or book online here. Tickets £12/ £9 concessions.

Please note: Due to some of the content, this show it is recommended for those over the age of 14. 

For more information on Starbuck Theatre Company – and to find out more about their Youth Training Company in Droitwich, please visit www.starbucktheatrecompany.co.uk. 

University of Birmingham’s 3Bugs Fringe Theatre Company opens their 2016 season with The Wonderful World of Dissocia, which must end 23 January. 

Lisa Jones is on a journey. Somewhere between a delayed transatlantic flight and the clocks going back, Lisa has lost an hour of her life and she is on a mission to Dissocia to get it back. The inhabitants of the wonderful world she finds herself in are a curious blend of the funny, the friendly and the brutal. 

As Neilson himself puts it, "If you like Alice in Wonderland but there’s not enough sex and violence in it, then Dissocia is the show for you". 

This is the University of Birmingham’s 3Bugs Fringe Theatre Company first show of 2016 after their successful run at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe:

☆☆☆☆☆
“Refreshingly unconventional ... gentle and menacing.” – EdFringeReview

Food will be on sale before the show – the profits of which will go to MIND, a UK based charity which offers information and advice to people with mental health problems and lobbies government and local authorities on their behalf.

The Wonderful World of Dissocia runs until 23 January at University of Birmingham, Guild of Students, Basement Rehearsal Space, with performances starting at 7pm. Tickets are £8 (adults) and £6 (concessions). For more information click here.

Please note this show is suitable for audience’s aged 15 and up. 

Eight new shows have recently been announced as part of Wolverhampton Grand Theatre’s new season – including the return of the hugely popular stage sensation Dirty Dancing and the 2016 – 17 pantomime, Aladdin.

Following the success of the current pantomime Peter Pan, which stars The Chuckle Brothers and John Altman, Aladdin, will again be produced by Qdos Entertainment and casting will be announced soon. Aladdin will open on Saturday 10 December 2016, running until Sunday 22 January 2017.
Celebrating the greatest love songs of The Carpenters, We've Only Just Begun will feature an 8-piece big band with audio visuals on Tuesday 31 May at 7:30pm. Karen Carpenter had arguably one of the most distinctive female singing voices in popular music and in the form of Toni Lee, Karen is reborn!

Graffiti Classics on Wednesday 1 June, 7:30pm, features 16 strings, 8 dancing feet and 4 voices with 1 aim: to make classical music wickedly funny and fantastically exhilarating. This show bursts the elitist boundaries of the traditional String Quartet with its hilarious all-singing, all-dancing musical comedy cabaret show.

Music Hall Memories will feature a star line up of favourites from the golden age of Music Hall on Wednesday 8 June at 2:30pm.

Due to phenomenal demand, a second performance of Doreen's Grand Night Out has been added on Thursday 14 July with only very limited seats remaining on Wednesday 13. This show features ‘Queen Of The Black Country’ Doreen in her various official roles as National Treasure, The First Lady of The State, movie star and all-round cultural phenomenon. In what she considers the “poshest venue she’s ever seen”, Doreen is determined to have a grand night out, and it’s such an important occasion that she’s promised to try and stay awake the whole evening. With a unique mixture of satirical stand-up, music and video surprises, Doreen assesses the state of the nation as only she can. And no doubt charabancs of Black Country folk will assemble to hear her words of wisdom.

From Tuesday 15 – Saturday 19 November, Bilston Operatic Company present Our House, based on the hits of Madness. The show includes the popular songs Our House, Baggy Trousers, My Girl, Embarrassment, Driving In My Car, The Wings of A Dove, Night Boat To Cairo and the all-time classic It Must Be Love.

Sally Morgan is back with her brand new and most jaw-dropping show yet - Psychic Sally - Call Me Psychic Tour on Friday 25 November. Funny, entertaining, sometimes heart breaking, often controversial; the show celebrates her 8th year on the road.

Sally says: “Every night when I’m on stage amazing things happen and it’s a privilege to be able to pass on messages of love and comfort to the people I share my gift with”.

Dirty Dancing returns to Wolverhampton following a hugely successful run in 2014. This time, a brand new production will come to Wolverhampton from Monday 28 November – Saturday 3 December 2016. The brand new staging of the show premiered in Milan in July 2015, subsequently packing out the 15,000 seat Roman Arena in Verona, and will be premiered on tour in the UK for 2016.

Already on sale for the autumn season is 9 To 5 - The Musical presented by South Staffs Musical Theatre Company from Tuesday 11 – Sat 15 October.

For more information on the exciting shows coming up at Wolverhampton Grand, visit their website here.

Audition dates have just been announced for Night Project Theatre's production of Jason Robert Brown's chamber piece The Last Five Years.

With a cast of just two, this is a fabulous opportunity for local performers to showcase their talent. Auditions will be taking place on 5 and 6 February, with performances taking place from 25 - 28 May. 

For more information and to register your interest, all you have to do is email nightprojecttheatre@gmail.com. 

Jonathan Larson is, quite rightly, hailed as one of the pioneers of the 'modern musical' and The Old Joint Stock Theatre in Birmingham is proud to produce both of his published works over the week which will mark the 20th anniversary of his passing.

Opening on Saturday 23 January 2016, tick, tick…BOOM! runs for 7 performances, closing on Saturday 30 January, and RENT – Performed in Concert will take place on Sunday 24 & Monday 25 January.
 
Casting for tick, tick…BOOM! includes Joshua Dowen in the role of Jon (credits include: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Edinburgh Fringe & UK tour); Cool Rider (Lyric Theatre & Duchess Theatre); Dogfight (Southwark Playhouse & St James Theatre), Jessica Singer as Susan (credits include: Date 1-10 (Landor Theatre); The Olivier Awards (2013 & 2014, Royal Opera House); Kerry Ellis at the London Palladium (London Palladium); High Society (Old Vic – Workshop); Guy Fawkes: A New Musical, M.A.D.) and Rhys Owen as Michael (credits include: Leonard, The Life of Stuff (Theatre 503); Dracula (Leicester Square Theatre); Jack and the Beanstalk (Buxton Opera House); Get That Beat (Tristan Bates Theatre); The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (UK Tour).
 
The Old Joint Stock Musical Theatre Company will be revisiting RENT which they performed in 2013, as a tribute to Larson. This will be in the style of a concert performance on 24 & 25 January – 20 years to the day it opened Off-Broadway. A donation will be made to an AIDS charity in Larson’s memory.
 
For more information and to book tickets visit Old Joint Stock Theatre's website here. All tickets £15 – call the box office on 0121 200 0946 for details of a discount when booking both productions!

The Mellow Dramatics are proud to introduce to you MDY, formed in 2014 as an opportunity to showcase the talented youth of our long established locally celebrated society. From 12 to 16 January they will bring the fantastic Bugsy Malone to the Brewhouse stage. 
​
Set in New York in the 1920s it captures a flashy world of hoodlums, showgirls and dreamers, following the rivalry of two gangs lead by Fat Sam and Dandy Dan, and of course, the loveable ex-boxer Bugsy, but who will be splurged and who will live to fight another day?

Bugsy Malone plays at the Brewhouse Arts Centre from 12 to 16 January, starting at 7.30pm (Saturday Matinee at 2.30pm). Prices are £10 for Tuesday night and Saturday Matinee, £12 for all other nights. Buy 4 tickets and get a fifth free on Tues, Wed, Thurs and Sat Matinee shows.

For more information and to book tickets call the box office on 01283 508100 or visit www.Mellow-Dramatics.org. 

Jamie Wilson is delighted to announce that Alexandra Burke will star as ‘Deloris Van Cartier’ in the national tour of Curve’s all new production of the hit musical comedy Sister Act, directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood with musical supervision and arrangements by Tony award-winning Sarah Travis. Sister Act will open at Curve on Saturday 30 July 2016. 

Craig said: “I am truly thrilled that Alexandra is going to be our leading lady in this all new production of Sister Act at Curve. Alexandra is such a fantastic singer and actress that I know she is going to be amazing. I couldn’t think of anyone better to play the role of the smart and funny Deloris’

Alexandra said: “I’m over the moon to be given the opportunity to play the wonderful Deloris in Sister Act. It’s such an iconic role and a part I’ve always wanted to play. I love touring the UK and I’m thrilled to be working with Craig and his amazing creative team. I can’t wait to get started!”
 
Alexandra Burke can currently be seen starring as Rachel Marron in the national tour of The Bodyguard, a part she also played in the West End. She originally rose to fame after winning the fifth series of The X Factor. Her debut number one single Hallelujah sold over one million copies in the UK, a first for a British female soloist. Burke’s first album, Overcome saw the release of her subsequent number one singles Bad Boys and Start Without You. In 2011 she embarked on her first solo tour and was invited by Beyoncé to support her I Am... Tour. Her second album, Heartbreak on Hold, was released in June 2012.

Based on the smash hit movie starring Whoopi Goldberg and Maggie Smith, Sister Act tells the hilarious story of Deloris Van Cartier, a disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she won’t be found – a Convent! Disguised as a nun and under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own.

Sister Act features original music by the 8 time Oscar and Tony Award winner Alan Menken. Alan’s credits include the films and stage musicals of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid and Newsies as well as Tangled, Enchanted, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pocahontas and Hercules on film.  His other credits include the film and stage production of Little Shop of Horrors. 

This all new production of Sister Act is directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood with musical supervision and arrangements by Sarah Travis. Set and costume design is by Matthew Wright, with lighting design by Richard G Jones and sound design by Richard Brooker.

PLAYING AT BIRMINGHAM’S NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE FROM MON 12 – SAT 17 SEP