Willy Russell News

Our reviewer casts her eye over the recent BBC series looking at the rise of the British musical

Written by Willy Russell, the author of EDUCATING RITA and SHIRLEY VALENTINE, BLOOD BROTHERS tells the story of a single mother who, in financial desperation, gives away one of her two newborn sons and attempts to keep them from discovering one another's true identity. Pressures of superstition, economics and class collide in this award-winning musical which has been running on London's West End for more than 20 years.

Peter Ellis - Chief Supt Brownlow in ITV1's The Bill - directs his real-life wife, Anita Parry, in the London premiere of her one-woman 2010 Edinburgh Festival hit comedy, What Would?Helen?Mirren Do?

Peter Ellis - Chief Supt Brownlow in ITV1's The Bill - directs his real-life wife, Anita Parry, in the London premiere of her one-woman 2010 Edinburgh Festival hit comedy, What Would?Helen?Mirren Do?.

Producers Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel announced that the American premiere of THE ANARCHIST, the new play about politics, money, religion and sex, written and directed by DAVID MAMET. The production will star two-time Tony Award winner PATTI LUPONE, who has previously appeared in Mamet's The Woods, All Men are Whores, The Blue Hour, The Water Engine, Edmond and The Old Neighborhood and three-time Emmy Award winner LAURIE METCALF, who was nominated for a 2008 Tony Award for her performance in Mamet's November. THE ANARCHIST, which marks the sixth collaboration between Richards, Frankel and Mamet, will open on Broadway in Fall 2012.

MARTI PELLOW, one of Britain's great music icons, is to make his hugely anticipated return to the London stage, joining Willy Russell's smash hit musical, one of the longest running in history. From TUESDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2011, Marti will join the West End cast of BLOOD BROTHERS as The Narrator at the Phoenix Theatre, for a limited season.

The Laguna Playhouse presents Shirley Valentine running September 27 - October 23, 2011. The play is directed by Andrew Barnicle, who most recently directed The Laguna Playhouse's acclaimed production of Private Lives. Shirley Valentine stars Dee Dee Rescher, who has previously performed at The Playhouse in productions such as Red Herring, The Underpants and The Pursuit of Happiness.

MARTI PELLOW, one of Britain's great music icons, is to make his hugely anticipated return to the London stage, joining Willy Russell's smash hit musical, one of the longest running in history. From TUESDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2011, Marti will join the West End cast of BLOOD BROTHERS as The Narrator at the Phoenix Theatre, for a limited season.

Shirley Valentine opens at The Laguna Playhouse.

The Laguna Playhouse presents Shirley Valentine running September 27 - October 23, 2011. The play is directed by Andrew Barnicle, who most recently directed The Laguna Playhouse's acclaimed production of Private Lives. Shirley Valentine stars Dee Dee Rescher, who has previously performed at The Playhouse in productions such as Red Herring, The Underpants and The Pursuit of Happiness.

A gripping tale of love and tragedy that has become a cult classic in Great Britain opens the 2011-12 season at Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre. Pierrot Productions presents 'Blood Brothers, the Musical' Fridays, Sept. 9 and 16 at 8 p.m.; Saturdays, Sept. 10 and 17 at 8 p.m.; and Sundays, Sept. 11 and 18 at 2 p.m. Kelsey Theatre is located on Mercer's West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on Sept. 9.

A gripping tale of love and tragedy that has become a cult classic in Great Britain opens the 2011-12 season at Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre. Pierrot Productions presents 'Blood Brothers, the Musical' Fridays, Sept. 9 and 16 at 8 p.m.; Saturdays, Sept. 10 and 17 at 8 p.m.; and Sundays, Sept. 11 and 18 at 2 p.m. Kelsey Theatre is located on Mercer's West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on Sept. 9.

Shattered Globe Theatre will present Educating Rita, the charming comedy with serious questions at its heart, previewing June 21st, opening June 23rd, and running through August 14th at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave.

A gripping tale of love and tragedy that has become a cult classic in Great Britain opens the 2011-12 season at Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre. Pierrot Productions presents 'Blood Brothers, the Musical' Fridays, Sept. 9 and 16 at 8 p.m.; Saturdays, Sept. 10 and 17 at 8 p.m.; and Sundays, Sept. 11 and 18 at 2 p.m. Kelsey Theatre is located on Mercer's West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on Sept. 9.

Roundabout Theatre Company has announced the full cast joining star and three-time Tony Award winner Frank Langella as 'Gregor Antonescu' in Terence Rattigan's drama Man and Boy, directed by Maria Aitken.

Shattered Globe Theatre will present Educating Rita, the charming comedy with serious questions at its heart, previewing June 21st, opening June 23rd, and running through August 14th at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave.

Shattered Globe Theatre will present Educating Rita, the charming comedy with serious questions at its heart, opening June 23rd and running through August 14th at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave.

THE BARN PLAYERS 2012 SEASON

Shattered Globe Theatre will present Educating Rita, the charming comedy with serious questions at its heart, previewing June 21st, opening June 23rd, and running through August 14th at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave.

Roundabout Theatre Company has announced that three-time Tony Award winner Frank Langella will star as 'Gregor Antonescu' in Terence Rattigan's drama Man and Boy on Broadway, directed by Maria Aitken.