A Brand New Season Of Shows On Sale At Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

A brand new season of West End musicals, gripping dramas, dynamic dance and one night concerts on sale next week at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.

See below for a full line up from the newly announced season.

Summer 2017

HEATWAVE, ODYSSEY & THE VOICE OF Rose Royce GWEN DICKEY sees real dance music legends perform Boogie Nights, Going Back to My Roots and Car Wash live on Thursday 15 June. Odyssey use it up and wear it out with Native New Yorker and Inside Out. It's Wishing on a Star and Love Don't Live Here Anymore with Gwen Dickey. And Mind Blowing Decisions, Always and Forever and Too Hot to Handle with Heatwave.

AND FINALLY... Phil Collins on Friday 16 June are recognised throughout the industry as the market leaders and definitive Phil Collins and Genesis tribute show. Now, celebrating their 10th Anniversary year together, this truly amazing eleven piece band which includes the 'And Finally Horns' faithfully re-create all the classic hits from the Phil Collins and Genesis timeless back catalogue.

Direct from the Watermill Theatre, a powerful and explosive new production of Romeo & Juliet brings Shakespeare's immortal tale of all-consuming love to the Grand Theatre stage for two performances on Wednesday 12 July. Directed by The Watermill Theatre's Artistic Director, Paul Hart, this brand new production features live music and an outstanding new ensemble of actors.

TWELFTH NIGHT on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 July, reimagined in the 1920s where prohibition is rife and Europe is reeling in the wake of war. Fuelled by a scintillating selection of energetic jazz music, an outstanding new ensemble of actors come together to create a dizzying and beautiful version of Shakespeare's perfect play. The Watermill's famous ensemble approach to Shakespeare is fused with an innovative approach to staging and dazzling actor musicianship to tell a timeless story of mistaken identities, seduction and transformation.

ROOM ON THE bROOM from Monday 17 - Wednesday 19 July will see the witch and her cat on their mission to defeat the dragon in Tall Stories' magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The witch and her cat are travelling on their broomstick when they pick up some hitch-hikers - a friendly dog, a beautiful green bird and a crazy frog. But this broomstick's not meant for five and - CRACK - it snaps in two... just as the hungry dragon appears!

Direct from the London Palladium, DES O'CONNOR & JIMMY TARBUCK LIVE is a rare event as the two showbiz legends join together on Saturday 22 July. Des and Jimmy, legends of television, show-business and of the Royal Variety Performance come together, accompanied by music and video to reminisce and entertain at Wolverhampton for one night only!

Autumn 2017

MILKSHAKE! LIVE on Saturday 23 September stars Milkshake! favourites Bob the Builder, Little Princess, Noddy, Fireman Sam, Shimmer & Shine, Pip from Pip Ahoy!, Winnie and Wilbur, Wissper, Milkshake!'s very own Milkshake! Monkey and two Milkshake! presenters, this all singing, all dancing, musical masterpiece, will take audiences on a journey through the world's favourite fairytales. Set amongst Milkshake!'s magical bookcase, this brand new live show is sure to amaze and delight! The Milkshake! cast will be singing songs and sharing stories that audience members, young and old, will know and love.

THE Whitney Houston SHOW returns due to popular demand on Sunday 24 September. This breathtaking production, featuring the impeccable vocal talents of South Africa's BeLinda Davids, is a beautifully crafted tribute to one of the world's most revered singers. The show includes 20 of Houston's most popular tracks taken from the full span of her career. Accompanied by a full band and dancers, Davids performs over two hours of Whitney Houston's best loved pop hits live on stage.

A BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT is back on Sunday 1 October, packed to the rim with music, mirth and merriment! Show regulars Dandy are one of the most sought after comedy acts and are back with refreshed routines. It is a great pleasure to welcome the band behind the Black Country Anthem, The Empty Can who have performed all over the world but have their hearts firmly in the Black Country. Also, the comedy legend that is Mr Ian 'Sludge' Lees, renowned throughout the UK as a very funny man. Joined by raconteur, musician and comedian Bev Pegg who will be the master of ceremonies while also introducing one of the finest voices to emerge from the Black Country, Jess Silk.

ENGLISH YOUTH BALLET - THE NUTCRACKER SUITE WITH BALLET ETUDES will see eight professional principal artists in leading roles alongside up to 100 young local dancers on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 September.

Take 30 world class circus artistes, add six sensational musicians, stir in a rainbow of incredible costumes, infuse with the Latin passion and excitement of hot Havana carnival....CIRCO CUBA LIBRE....the free spirit of circus live in Wolverhampton on Sunday 15 October. The show pulsates with the rhythms of Mambo, Salsa and Cha Cha Cha. Featuring award winning circus artistes with extraordinary displays of skills and agility, comedy, dance and music that will have you out of your seats and dancing in the aisles.

DOREEN - RISE OF THE YAM YAM is already on sale and close to selling out. Following last year's sell-out Grand Night Out the Black Country favourite returns in a unique mixture of hilarious stand-up, sit-down, video surprises and unforgettable music, the Comedy Queen of the Black Country sets out to challenge Darwin with her very own Theory of Evolution.

THE NEW ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS stars Julie Paton from Cats as Puss In Boots and Grand Theatre panto dame Ian Adams as Queen of Catrovia. Watch Puss help his Master win the hand of the beautiful Princess, and become the richest man in the land. Music, magic and mayhem abound as this clever cat comes out on top. With sing-a-long songs and lots of audience participation THE NEW ADVENTURES OF PUSS IN BOOTS is a purrrrrfect treat for all the family on Monday 23 October.

BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE GRAND is an exclusive invitation to find out how the Grand Theatre works on Wednesday 25 October. Take your seat in the auditorium where key members of staff will offer a rare window into the working world of show business. Discover how we choose our shows, how they're cast and how we make sure everyone knows they're here, then take your opportunity to ask questions. Once you're in the know, enjoy an in-depth tour of our Front of House areas, discovering the history of the Grand along the way, before going backstage to see where the magic of theatre is created!

DINNER IN THE SPOTLIGHT takes place centre stage. The Grand Theatre plays host to two elaborate celebrity dinners on stage at the Grand, presented by BBC Midlands Today's Nick Owen. Join Nick and our celebrity guests from the world of stage and screen for this unique opportunity to get up close and personal. The evening will begin with pre-dinner drinks and entertainment in the Encore Lounge before a fabulous three-course meal on stage. Sit back and enjoy dinner whilst listening in between courses to our celebrity guests chat about their life and work within the theatre industry. Enjoy an array of entertainment in the beautiful Grade II listed auditorium. Celebrity guests will be announced soon.

SING-A-LONG-A ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW - the Campest Cult Classic of all time gets the Sing-a-long-a treatment it's been screaming for on Saturday 28 October! If you've done The Time Warp before, you'll never have done it quite like this! The evening begins with your host leading a vocal warm-up before they show you how to use your free interactive props bag. This is a screening of the iconic movie and not a live stage show.

TALON - THE BEST OF THE EAGLES returns on Tuesday 31 October. Over the last two decades Talon have risen from humble beginnings to one of the most successful theatre touring shows in the UK and the 20th Anniversary Tour will once again feature all those classic Eagles Greatest Hits from their timeless back catalogue including Hotel California, Take It Easy, One Of These Nights, Take It To The Limit, Desperado, Lyin' Eyes, Life In The Fast Lane and many more

THE SPIRIT OF ALOHA IN CONCERT STARRING GORDON HENDRICKS on Wednesday 1 November is a show which takes you through the '68 special and Elvis in Concert years to a special acoustic section where beautiful ballads and gospel songs are recreated. After the interval Gordon presents Aloha from Hawaii which is a superlatively choreographed and brilliantly engineered major theatre production which replicates this iconic show as beamed via satellite live from Honolulu.

THE STYLISTICS return on Thursday 2 November with their charisma, style and harmony, who have evolved into one of the best-selling soul groups ever, return to the UK. The Philadelphia group recorded a remarkable 10 straight-top ten hits during the early 1970s including the Grammy nominated hit You Make Me Feel Brand New, plus Can't Give You Anything (But My Love), You Are Everything, Betcha By Golly Wow, I'm Stone in Love With You, Let's Put It All Together, Break Up To Make Up plus many more.

Steve Steinman has ramped up the vamp in this spectacular sequel to the phenomenally successful Vampires Rock on Friday 3 November. It's VAMPIRES ROCK: GHOST TRAIN, featuring a tongue in cheek story, spellbinding cast, guitar gods and sexy vampettes, this rock-tastic, hilarious, musical concert will take you on a ride through some of the greatest classic rock anthems ever! Including tracks from Queen, AC/DC, Meat Loaf, Journey, Guns n' Roses and many more. With just the right amount of fun and humour this night of mischief and mayhem will leave you up on your feet and roaring with laughter!

On Saturday 4 November, it's AN EVENING WITH PAM AYRES. Pam Ayres has been making the nation laugh for over 40 years. Funny and warm, her charming understaTEd Manner belies a rare comic precision. Her hair-trigger timing, her eye for the absurd details of everyday life, and unforgettable turn of phrase, combine to make her a true National Treasure. Recent radio broadcasts include Just A Minute, Loose Ends, and five of her own series of Ayres On The Air for Radio 4.

Starring EastEnders' Rita Simons as Paulette Bonafonte, LEGALLY BLONDE bursts onto the Grand Theatre stage from Tuesday 7 - Saturday 11 November. This is the smash hit Broadway and West End Musical based on the best loved movie that follows beautiful and popular sorority sister Elle Woods who loves to be pampered and is passionate about pink. When she is dumped by her boyfriend Warner Huntingdon III for a more serious girlfriend she puts down the credit cards and picks up the books. Packing up her trusty pooch, Bruiser, she bags herself a place at the prestigious Harvard Law School to try and win him back. With the support of her new friends she learns that you can be both smart and fashionable. Rita Simons is best known for playing Roxy Mitchell in BBC's EastEnders for which she has won numerous awards and is one of Britain's best loved actresses.

Winter 2018

GALLOWGLASS from Thursday 18 - Saturday 20 January is a world stage premiere from the pen of one of the world's greatest thriller writers. When Sandor snatched Little Joe from the path of a London tube train, he was quick to make clear the terms of the rescue. "I saved your life", he told the homeless youngster, "so your life belongs to me now". Sandor began to tell him a fairytale: an ageing prince, a kidnapped princess chained by one ankle, a missed rendezvous... But what did this mysterious story have to do with Sandor? Joe only understood his own role - he was a Gallowglass, the servant of a chief... This classy thriller is brought to you by Middle Ground Theatre Company, whose recent productions here include The Verdict and A Murder Is Announced.

Following a sold-out run at the National Theatre, the modern production of Ibsen's masterpiece HEDDA GABLER comes to Wolverhampton from Tuesday 23 - Saturday 27 January 2018. This vital new version by Olivier Award-winning playwright Patrick Marber (Closer, Three Days in the Country) is directed by Olivier and Tony Award-winning director Ivo Van Hove (A View from the Bridge), who made his National Theatre debut with this acclaimed new production.

The Russian State Ballet Of Siberia presents THE NUTCRACKER on Sunday 28 January, Romeo & Juliet on Monday 29 January and SWAN LAKE on Tuesday 30 January. Formed in 1981, the Russian State Ballet of Siberia has quickly established itself as one of Russia's leading ballet companies and has built an international reputation for delivering performances of outstanding quality and unusual depth. The soloists and corps de ballet are superb, and never fail to delight audiences with their breath-taking physical ability and dazzling costumes.

For one night only five legendary names take to the stage to deliver three hours of nonstop 60s nostalgia in THE SENSATIONAL 60s EXPERIENCE on Saturday 3 February. And for the first time since the 60s, the composer Mike d'Abo and singer Chris Farlowe of worldwide smash hit Handbags and Gladrags appear live on the same bill. So step back in time to when pop music was at its very best! Hits include The Mighty Quinn, Out Of Time, Storm in a Teacup, I'm Into Something Good, Bend Me Shape Me and of course Handbags And Gladrags plus many more.

The smash hit musical comedy HAIRSPRAY is coming to Wolverhampton with a production guaranteed to have you dancing the night away. For one week only from 26 February - 3 March 2018 the irresistible feel-good show bursts onto the Grand Theatre Stage. It's Baltimore, 1962 where Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and an even bigger heart, is on a mission to follow her dreams and dance her way onto national TV. Tracy's audition makes her a local star and soon she is using her new-found fame to fight for equality, bagging local heartthrob Link Larkin along the way!

Tickets are on sale exclusively to Friends Of The Grand at 11am on Monday 27 March and from 11am on Friday 31 March for public sales. Tickets can be purchased by calling 01902 42 92 12, in person at the Box Office or online at grandtheatre.co.uk. Become a Friend of the Grand by calling the Box Office or online at grandtheatre.co.uk/support.

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