Willy Russell News

David Pugh & Dafydd Rogers and Theatre by the Lake have announced that a major new stage production of Willy Russell's EDUCATING RITA will tour the UK in 2019. Starring Stephen Tompkinson as Frank, and introducing Jessica Johnson as Rita, the play will be directed by Max Roberts.

This iconic Willy Russell play, set in Liverpool, England in 1980, follows the relationship between hairdresser Rita, and Frank, a middle-aged university lecturer, over the course of a year.

Following two critically acclaimed seasons of Shakespeare, the award-winning Daniel Taylor Productions returns to The Epstein Theatre this spring with a production of Macbeth that reunites three stars of the international smash-hit musical Blood Brothers.

 To begin the year 2019, Luciole International Theatre Company presents Educating Rita by Willy Russell.

Bill Kenwright's 'Dazzling' (Sunday Telegraph) production of the international smash hit musical Blood Brothers announces its 2019 Spring tour, opening on Tuesday 29th January at Malvern Festival Theatre. This iconic musical has been visiting theatres across the country throughout 2018, performing to sell-out houses and receiving standing ovations.

 To begin the year 2019, Luciole International Theatre Company presents Educating Rita by Willy Russell.

Eric Abraham and The Fugard Theatre present the South African premiere of HAPPY NEW YEAR, a hilarious, heart-warming rom com, adapted by South African icon David Kramer from the hit, award-winning play MIDSUMMER (A Play With Songs) by David Greig and Gordon McIntyre.

There's plenty to celebrate as the Grand Theatre turns 125 next year! The streets of Wolverhampton will be paved with gold as the magic of DICK WHITTINGTON comes to the Grand Theatre!

For those in the musical theatre world, you have probably heard of BLOOD BROTHERS, even if you don't really know the music or the plot. It is the third longest-running show in the West End (after Les Miz and Phantom), and played for over 10,000 performances! Imprint Theatreworks has taken on this show as the closer to their season. However, due to weakness in the writing of both the book and the music, it is difficult to imagine this being a smash hit here in the States like it was across the pond.

Imprint Theatreworks is pleased to announce the phenomenal cast and creative team of our anticipated inaugural season closer, Blood Brothers by Willy Russell! 

The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities will open the 2018 - 2019 Black Box season with Educating Rita, directed by Lynne Collins, today, October 5, 2018. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with matinees on Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m., through November 11. Preview performances are October 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m. Pre-show chats and audience talkbacks are held throughout the run of the production. To purchase tickets call 720-898-7200 or go online  

The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities will open the 2018 - 2019 Black Box season with Educating Rita, directed by Lynne Collins, on Friday, October 5, 2018. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with matinees on Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m., through November 11. Preview performances are October 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m. Pre-show chats and audience talkbacks are held throughout the run of the production. To purchase tickets call 720-898-7200 or go online  

Bill Kenwright's production of the international smash hit musical Blood Brothers announces its 2018 Autumn tour, opening on Tuesday 4 September at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley and visits St Helens Theatre Royal from Tue 11 - Sat 15 September.

The production, based on the true story, the film and the award-winning play by Tim Firth, features musical numbers written by Gary Barlow of Take That fame. The cast includes Fern Britton, Sara Crowe and Denise Welsh.

Bill Kenwright's production of the international smash hit musical Blood Brothers announces its 2018 Autumn tour, opening on Tuesday 4 September at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley. This iconic musical has been visiting theatres across the country throughout 2018, performing to sell-out houses and receiving standing ovations.

Celebrating over 20 years of acclaimed musical theatre training for young thespians, the Centenary Stage Company's Young Performers Workshop returns to the Little Theater August 3 through August 12 with the annual Summer Festival of Shows. These talented young thespians between the ages of 8 and 18 will present a variety of musical theater favorites including; Blood Brothers, A Year with Frog and Toad, The Drowsy Chaperone, Arthur Miller's All My Sons and the ever-popular One-Act Festival. The Young Performers Workshop is also seeking new and returning applicants for the 2018 Fall Session. Interviews will be held by appointment on Saturday, August 11 and Sunday, August 12. Call the box office directly to schedule an interview.

'Shirley Valentine' is a captivating tale of a 'woman of a certain age' who finds herself reclaiming the wonderlust of her former self. Dolores Haddock flawlessly goes in and out of multiple characters in extended monologues with an effortless, natural presence. Hydock skills as a master storyteller add a striking level of relatability and honesty in the performance.

Renowned director and TNT co-founder Carl Stewart and acclaimed storyteller/actress Dolores Hydock will once again combine their formidable talents in Terrific New Theatre's next production, the one-woman play "Shirley Valentine," running June 7-30. The pair's theatrical collaborations over the past two decades are legendary, and this production reunites them for the first time since Stewart retired as TNT's Artistic Director in summer 2016.

The new cast of CALENDAR GIRLS The Musical met for the first time with the original Calendar Girls themselves in the beautiful village of Burnsall in the Yorkshire Dales and the original Calendar Girls couldn't be happier with this new cast.