Your Midlands and Shropshire am dram guide
One of my happiest memories of being a musical theatre show was appearing as a nun in the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, The Sound of Music. Sounds like a cliché Am Dram moment doesn’t it? But, believe me being able to wear a very comfortable costumes, having to do minimal hair and make-up and donning flat shoes is very appealing during a week’s run! Not to mention the incredible music of course.
Another show that sees the ladies in black dominating the stage is of course Sister Act the Musical, which Willenhall Musical Theatre Company will be presenting at the Dormston Mill Theatre in Sedgley from April 9-13.
The 1992 movie starring the incomparable Whoopi Goldberg in the role of nightclub singer, Deloris Van Cartier, saw Whoopi on the run from her gangster boyfriend and his hoods, after she witnesses them commit a murder. Surprisingly, the police decide to hide Deloris in a convent – the last place the mob would think to look for her!
The score of this show is so uplifting, witty and even touching. It includes Take Me to Heaven, Fabulous Baby, Spread the Love Around, Within these Walls and The Life I Never Led.
There are some hilarious one liners and really funny musical numbers, with songs which were written specifically for the stage adaptation by Alan Menken, Cheri and Bill Steinkellner and Glenn Slater.
In this production, Laura Wynter is Deloris. I asked her how she felt about taking on such an iconic role.
“I absolutely love this character. I think Whoopi Goldberg is amazing in the films,” Laura said. I have also seen it on stage twice with Cynthia Erivo and Alexandra Burke and they were both fantastic. I have played Deloris Van Cartier before with another theatre group, so it has been a lot of fun to revive this character again.”
Laura told me that the songs are well within her vocal range and that she loves the harmonies. “I have been singing for over 20 years. I grew up in the Pentecostal Church and so singing and music runs through my veins.” She has plenty of support from family and friends who are coming to see the show too.
One of her favourite numbers from the show is Raise Your Voice. “I love how the nuns’ confidence grows throughout the song as Deloris sprinkles her magic,” Laura said. “It’s a real feel good number.”
In fact, it is a real feel good show all round!
For tickets for Sister Act, visit www.seaty.co.uk/sisteract or call 07757808036.
Meanwhile over at Stourbridge Town Hall, there is a toe tapping production of the wonderful musical Top Hat, presented by the TAB Operatic Society from April 9-13.
The film of this dazzling love story was brought to life by one of the best loved couples ever to grace the silver screen, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and the stage adaptation is equally as bewitching.
Michael Astley and Fleur Petford take on the roles of Jerry Travers and Dale Tremont who will be Dancing Cheek to Cheek.
The score of the show includes some absolute classics from the 1930’s including Isn’t It a Lovely Day?, Puttin’ on the Ritz, Wild About You, No Strings and of course the title song, Top Hat, White Tie and Tails.
It’s a must for anyone who loves nostalgia, comedy and romance and is one of my favourite shows.
In true am dram style, this group are donating some of the proceeds from the show to Stroke Association. If you wish to help too, visit www.stroke.org.uk
For tickets for Top Hat, visit www.taboperatic.com or call 07722417962.
The resident group at The Belfrey Theatre in Wellington will present Alan Bennett’s play Habeas Corpus from April 11-13.
Written in 1973, this is a farcical comedy set in Brighton in the 1960s where the permissive society has well and truly taken hold of the apparently respectable Wicksteed family.
It’s a typical farce, with a saucy, seaside postcard air. Not my thing at all, but I know some of you simply love this type of comedy.
For tickets, visit www.belfreytheatre.com or call 01952 222277.
There are celebrations in the air as Codsall Dramatic Society celebrates 70 years.
Formed in 1949, this popular group will be presenting the much loved, laugh out loud comedy, The Vicar of Dibley from April 10-13 at Codsall Village Hall.
Following the recent death of the village vicar, the Parish Council is outraged to find that his replacement is a female! Enter Geraldine Granger, a lady with attitude. But, she still needs to win over the parishioners and establish herself in the crazy village of Dibley.
This version of the BBC hit TV comedy follows Geraldine from her arrival to her wedding and will be an absolute hoot!
For tickets, visit www.codsalldramaticsociety.co.uk, call 01902 267322 or call into Ian Ribgy Jewellers or Village Crafts in Codsall.
Local playwright, Laura Liptrot, will be returning to her old school, Redhill in Stourbridge, to present her first full length play on April 6. It’s entitled First Aid.
This is a comical look at what happens when a group of people are thrown together on a first aid course to study a subject none of them have any knowledge about. Somehow, each one discovers what is missing from their lives and gets a first aid qualification to boot.
Described as heart-warming, fast, farcical and funny, First Aid is guaranteed to leave you in stiches!
For tickets priced at just £3 each, call 079067 63475.
Finally this week, tickets are now on sale for South Staffs Musical Theatre Company’s concert, One Night Only, which they will present at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre on September 8.
This will be an evening of fun and entertainment with songs from new and old show plus a special guest appearance from Donchez, from Britain’s Got Talent.
Call 01902 429212 or visit www.grandtheatre.co.uk
Well, that’s all for this week. Send me your news to a.norton@expressandstar.co.uk, call me on 01902 319662 or follow me on Twitter @AlisonNorton
Break a leg!
