Since this is my last theatre and musical theatre column of 2023, I thought this would be a good opportunity to look back on another amazing year of shows.
For my radio show this week I’ve decided to play a song from each of the musicals I’ve seen this year. When I started to compile my list, which includes both professional and amateur shows, as well as my trips to the West End and Broadway, I was quite shocked by how many I’ve seen during the last twelve months.
The highlights, for me, were the conclusion of two stories I’ve followed from the beginning to the end. Back to the Future and &Juliet were musicals that started their journey’s at Manchester’s Opera House. Both had gone through lengthy workshops as they fine-tuned before the public got to see them, meaning that even before opening night, the casts had bonded and you could tell when they were together on stage.
I was there for the first public performance of the musical story of Marty McFly, Doc and the DeLorean. Olly Dobson played Marty, Roger Bart was Doc and Hugh Coles was George McFly. They created the roles. During 2023, I was at the Adelphi Theatre in London’s West End when Roger Bart said his goodbyes. He was emotional, so was I. During the summer I got to see Roger Bart in the first week of the Broadway version. Naturally he was amazing.
I’d also been at the genesis of &Juliet, the jukebox musical based on the songs of Swedish mega song writer Max Martin. I was in the West End when the show’s final curtain came down and I saw the recast show on Broadway too, last summer. Look out for it when it stops off in Manchester next summer on the national tour. I’d recommend it to anyone.
On the Am/Dram stage, I saw my son Steven perform in three different shows, West Side Story, A Chorus Line (for which he won an award) and Avenue Q. In March 2024 he’ll be treading the boards again in Priscilla Queen of the Desert at Stockport Plaza. It’s a great show and I’ve seen him in it before, so I have no doubt he’ll be brilliant again. I recommend you go and see it if you can.
Alongside him will be Gary Jones, playing the part of Tick, and he lit up the stage on the two occasions I saw him perform this year. I was particularly blown away by Bridges of Madison County. He played Robert Kincaid brilliantly and I’ll be playing a song from that show in my radio show this week.
Mossley Amateur Operatic Society and their next Generation also performed School of Rock recently. Their cast was amazing and I love that show too.
I saw two versions of Titanic the musical, the professional show in Liverpool, which told the tragic tale with great respect and largely through emotional choral work. The wonderful Ensemble Theatre in Denton did their own version, with original songs and led by the amazing Janet Fagan, who’s daughter appeared in the show.
I think I counted up that I attended thirty-eight musicals during 2023, from Hamilton and the King and I to Book of Mormon and Rogers the Musical, which featured music by the great Broadway songwriter Marc Shaiman, who also wrote Hairspray and Mary Poppins Returns, to name just two more. I even interviewed Marc for my show.
Last week I saw the Noel Coward play Brief Encounter at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. It was brilliant, it’s on until 13th January, another I highly recommend.
How many shows did you attend and which was your favourite. Make sure you listen this Sunday (Christmas Eve) from 7pm (repeated next Wednesday at 9pm) to see if I play your favourite song from a show that I saw in 2023. As well as this week’s show, Break-a-Leg will be on Tameside Radio 103.6FM on New Years Eve from 7pm. Many of my fabulous guests, during the year, will pick their favourite Musical Theatre songs. Don’t miss it! Break-a-Leg!
