Everyman And Playhouse Theatres, Liverpool will present ONCE UPON A TIME AT THE ADELPHI - a new musical by Phil Willmott, running from Saturday 28 June to Saturday 19 July 2008.
1930's Liverpool, and the glitz and glamour of Hollywood pour off the luxury liners for their first taste of England: a night in the city's most fashionable hotel. Amidst the chaos and decadence, no-nonsense Alice from Reception has fallen for the dashing Thompson from accounts – but fate, Hollywood, World War Two and a dizzying array of staff and guests intervene in an epic Liverpool love story spanning over seventy years. With a toe-tapping score and a host of exuberant charactersthis romantic musical journey is a joyful celebration of one of Britain's most renowned hotels.
Writer/Director Phil Willmott is well known for his imaginative musical productions such as Around the World in Eighty Days and Dick Barton-Special Agent. He returns to the Playhouse following last year's stunning production of Much Ado About Nothing set around the VE Day celebrations, a wonderful revival of Billy Liar in 2006 and the critically acclaimed Master Harold and the Boys in 2005. Phil is also Artistic Director of his own multi award-winning theatre company The Steam Industry (incorporating The Finborough Theatre and the open-air 'Scoop' amphitheatre on London's South Bank) and was an Associate Artist of London's Battersea Arts Centre throughout the 1990s and Associate Director of the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford.
Playing Alice is Julie Atherton (Notes from New York, Fame, Mamma Mia, Avenue Q), with Thompson played by musical theatre band member, Teatro's Simon Bailey (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, We Will Rock You, Les Miserables). Other cast members include: LAMDA trained Liverpool actress Helen Carter (The Flint Street Nativity, Top Girls); comedy actor Neil McCaul (My Dad's the Prime Minister, 55 Degrees North, Where the Heart Is); London Arts School graduate Tom Oakley (Ripper The Musical, Peter Pan, Pirates of Penzance); jazz solo artist and musical theatre actress Natasha Seale (Les Miserables, Aspects of Love, Tracy Beaker Gets Real); and Steam Industry regular Nick Smithers (Westward Ho, Around the World in 80 Days, By The Sea).
Eight LIPA students will make up the ensemble: Lisa Clifford, Sophie Edwards, Victoria Inez Hardy, Michael Ledvich, Kane Murray, Sally Peerless, Jennifer Riley, Jennifer Thornton
Phil Willmott has joined forces again with designer Christopher Woods (Much Ado About Nothing, Billy Liar) to ensure a sumptuous set evocative of the 1930s glamour the Adelphi is famed for. Additional music has been composed by Elliot Davis who is also the musical director and arranger, with choreography by Andrew Wright, lighting design by Ben Cracknell and sound design by Jason Barnes. So check-in for the musical night of your life at the Liverpool Playhouse in July! -- www.everymanplayhouse.com
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