Your latest am dram round-up from the Midlands and Shropshire

From September 5-8, you can catch Wolverhampton Musical Comedy Company’s production of In the Heights, a fun, high-energy show from the pen of Hamilton composer, Lin-Manuel Miranda, at The Dormston Centre in Sedgley.

Exploring three days in the lives of the inhabitants of New York’s Latino neighbourhood of Washington Heights, the score of the show is a revelation, featuring hip-hop, méringue and soul music.

Bodega owner Usnavi is dating Vanessa, who works in a beauty salon. He dreams of opening a bar in his home country, the Dominican Republic. It’s only a dream at this stage, but then his Abuela, Claudia, who raised Usnavi after the death of his parents, wins $96,000 in a numbers game.

Nina loves Benny, a shy young man who has worked for Nina’s parents for years, but her father opposes their union because he wants Nina to finish her education at Stanford University. She doesn’t want her father to bankrupt himself paying for the expensive school, but her father is prepared to sell his car-service business.

It’s boy meets girl with to a Hispanic beat.

In this production, Rosie Harper from Penn in Wolverhampton stars as Nina, with Johann Davis from Perton as Claudia and Alec White as Usnavi.

This is a strong, young, talented cast who will no doubt do this amazing storyline, complex music and demanding dance routines justice.

l For tickets priced at £15 each, email tickets@muscom.co.uk or visit www.muscom.co.uk

One of the best-loved TV movies must surely be Goodnight Mr Tom which starred John Thaw in the title role and introduced Nick Robinson as William Beech.

Stourbridge Theatre Company will be presenting this heart-warming tale at Stourbridge Town Hall from September 6-8 with performances at 7.30pm nightly.

When young William is evacuated and sent to live with Tom Oakley, an elderly man who’s set in his ways and doesn’t have much time for people, it is obviously not a match made in heaven.

It soon becomes apparent however that William’s home life is not a happy one and he’s withdrawn and quiet, but Tom learns to draw him out, tutors him in reading and writing, and encourages his creativity.

As a result, an unexpected bond develops between the two, so much so that when the boy’s mother wants him to return to a Blitz-torn London, William does not want to leave and Tom, surprisingly, doesn’t want him to go.

The script creates pure theatrical magic and leave you close to tears, but at the same time, there are plenty of amusing moments.

l For tickets visit the group’s Facebook page or call 0333 666 3366 or visit www.stourbridgetheatre.co.uk

Over in Birmingham, Great Barr Musical Theatre Company is celebrating its 30th anniversary, with a wonderful one-night concert entitled Songs from the Shows on September 29 at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall.

Audiences will be treated to excerpts from Footloose, Guys and Dolls, Chicago, Honk, The Wiz, Little Shop of Horrors, The Wedding Singer and Our House.

l For tickets priced at £12.50 for adults and £10 for under 12-year olds, visit www.townhallsuttoncoldfield.co.uk or call 0121 296 9543 Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm.

Although the summer holidays are now over, I expect many young performers who have been attending holiday theatre schools will be longing to get back on stage. I hope the confidence and experience they’ve gained will set them in good stead to go ahead and join a group on a more permanent basis.

With this in mind, why not try this group?

Central Youth Theatre, which meets and rehearses at Newhampton Arts Centre in Wolverhampton, was founded in 1983 by its current director, Jane Ward MBE. Many past members of this group have gone on to work professionally in theatre, film and television.

There are two age groups – eight to 12 year olds, who meet on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings, and 13-25-year olds, who meet on Sunday afternoons.

l For more information, visit www.centralyouththeatre.org

Or further afield, why not enquire about joining Vamos Youth Theatre who are based at the Worcester Arts Workshop?

Aimed at young people aged between 13-21, who love theatre, this group is a challenging, exciting and creative place to learn new skills including voice work, improvisation characterisation, physical theatre, drama and comedy.

l The group meets on Wednesdays between 5:30pm and 7.30pm. For more information, visit www.vamostheatre.co.uk

A popular choice of drama amongst am dram companies of late is the gritty, yet amusing play Brassed Off.

In a village in northern England, the conductor of a colliery brass band, Danny, has difficulty maintaining the morale of his musicians, when the economic future of the area is threatened by the possibility that the local coal mine will be closed.

But things change when a former resident, Gloria returns to assess the mine.

Reacquainted with her old flame Andy, as well as the band, she joins them in their last-ditch attempt to win a national competition.

Kidderminster Operatic and Dramatic Society will present Brassed Off at the Rose Theatre from September 18-22, with performances nightly at 7.30pm and a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm on September 22.

l For tickets call the box office on 01562 743745.

Finally this week, Bridgnorth Musical Theatre Company is delighted to be starting rehearsals for their 2019 show, Half a Sixpence, which they will perform at Bridgnorth Leisure Centre in February next year.

They are holding an introduction evening and first rehearsal on September 5 at 7.30pm at the Bridgnorth Endowed Drama Room and are inviting members to go along and meet the production team, start learning the music and gather information on the characters and collect audition pieces.

l For more information email mtcbridgnorth@gmail.com

l Well that’s all for this week. Keep your news and quality photos coming to a.norton@expressandstar.co.uk, call me on 01902 319662 or follow me on Twitter @AlisonNorton

Break a leg!