Ballroom Dancing fans and those who love a good Cinderella story will be delighted to hear that the stage version of much loved movie musical Strictly Ballroom is coming to the West End after it's National tour.
It's rare that a film has influenced a dance trend, I can't recall this happening since Grease, Saturday Night Fever, Fame and Dirty Dancing were hits in the 70s and 80's. But Strictly Ballroom really did make an unfashionable mode of dancing cool, leading to the current phenomenally successful prime time TV shows in which celebrities train and compete with one another to demonstrate the most precision and flare.
The Musical is based on the original Australian musical created by Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin, with a book by Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce.
The new stage show, directed and choreographed by Olivier Award winner Drew McOnie is opening on Wednesday 11th April 2018 at Piccadilly Theatre, London with previews from Friday 16th March 2018.
Drew McOnie’s recent theatre credits include On The Town (Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park) The Wild Party (The Other Palace), Jesus Chris Superstar (Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park), Jekyll & Hyde (Old Vic), and Hairspray (National Tour).
The press release reminds us that Strictly Ballroom The Musical is about what happens "When maverick championship ballroom dancer Scott defies all the rules of competition to follow his heart, he teams up with left-footed partner Fran to win the National Championship his way.
Featuring the film’s classic break-into-song numbers such as Love is in the Air, Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps and Time After Time, Strictly Ballroom The Musical will also include electrifying songs from a host of internationally acclaimed artists"
It's another exciting project from producers Global Creatures "the team behind Walking With Dinosaurs – The Arena Spectacular, the upcoming production of Muriel’s Wedding, the Broadway-bound King Kong and Moulin Rouge! The Musical"
Casting has yet to be announced but with so many celebrities ball room dancing across our TV screens in recent years the producers have plenty of choice!
I thoroughly enjoyed a West End Sunday night at Foundation bar in Covent Garden where one of its underground chambers transformed awkwardly but effectively for the night into a cabaret spot, and twelve or so young musical theatre singers and a great band enthralled an enthusiastic home crowd with a series of songs from shows.