Press release

BELMONT THEATRE COMPANY presents: THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS: THE MUSICAL! By Joanne Bogart & Eric Rockwell

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Date published: 3rd Oct 2014

"CHARMING! FUNNY! HITS IT?S TARGETS WITH SOPHISTICATED AFFECTION!"

Belmont Theatre Company presents the third production of its 2014 season, the hilarious and witty THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS: THE MUSICAL! written by Joanne Bogart & Eric Rockwell, directed by Mike & Maggie Morrow.

The show will open with a preview night on Tuesday 28th October (tickets £11.00) and run to Saturday 1st November, including a Saturday Matinee at 2:45pm. Ticket prices are £13.50, concessions £12.00 (not available Friday and Saturday evenings). Please call the Belmont Box Office on 0845 521 3453 or alternatively 07917 324179

Tickets are selling fast.

THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS: THE MUSICAL is a hilarious pastiche of ?Rent? presented in the style of some of Broadway and London?s most renowned composers. June, a young girl who can't pay the rent, is threatened by her evil landlord. Will the heroic leading man come to her rescue? In an evening of variations on a theme, this basic plot is presented in the way Rodgers and Hammerstein might have envisioned it, taking place in Kansas in August, complete with a Dream Ballet. The story is then done in the style of Stephen Sondheim, featuring the landlord as a tortured, artistic genius who slashes the throats of his tenants in revenge because they don't appreciate his art. When presented in the style of Jerry Herman, the story becomes an extravagant star vehicle, while the Andrew Lloyd Webber version is based around an Evita inspired character, with some themes borrowed from Puccini. The story is re-told one last time in the style of Kander & Ebb, set in a speakeasy in Chicago. The tone of this evening of satire is loving/irreverent and fun. The evening is rounded off with ?Done?, parodying ?One? from A Chorus Line.

First performed at the Dodger Stages in New York in 2005, the show had long, successful runs in New York City and all over the United States, as well as in Australia and the UK. The New York Times wrote, "The Musical of Musicals - The Musical! has real wit, real charm. It?s great fun!?

Directors Maggie and Mike have been married since 1973 and began directing in 1979. They are here seen with Richard Fairhead who skilfully accompanies the group on piano.

Maggie and Mike have a long history, ?One year we directed four successive shows but now limit ourselves to a maximum of one production every 18 months or so?. However they were pleased to be asked to direct The Musical of Musicals for Belmont as: ?It?s a fun show that appeals to everyone with an interest in musical theatre but also offers unique challenges for both directors and cast. Being an affectionate pastiche of five of the all-time great composers for musical theatre, it requires each of the five mini-musicals to be treated very much in the manner of the original shows. It has to be done well and played straight. It is too easy to lampoon the idiosyncratic styles of the writers and make it a parody but that misses the point. It is not a pantomime and each piece has to be performed with total sincerity even when crazy and manic events are unfolding ? perhaps the nearest equivalent would be the way the actors perform in a Hammer horror film. Get it right and the show buzzes along, get it wrong and it seems far too self-indulgent.?

This time they are presenting the evening as an awards ceremony (such as the Tonys or Oliviers) with each of the musicals being a contender for The Musical of Musicals statuette. Mike adds ?We hope this works! My favourite scenes are mainly the grittier bits ? the blood-thirsty artist in the Sondheim and the clearly schizophenic Evita-like character in the Lloyd Webber?. For Maggie ?The finale is a pastiche of A Chorus Line and is a fitting way to end the show.? Asked why people should come and see this musical? Their simple answer is that: ?If you love musicals ? such as Oklahoma, Carousel, Jesus Christ Superstar, Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, Cabaret and Hello Dolly ? you?ll enjoy the send-ups. If you don?t then it?s a fine introduction to the styles of these writers with plenty of humour for everyone.? Also it?s not too long ? a curse of amateur theatre. If you don?t come out of the theatre smiling and humming the odd tune, they say, they won?t have done their job well so hope you?ll come along and judge for yourselves.

Judi Campion, who plays Juanita in ?Aspects of Juanita? ? the Andrew Lloyd Webber section - says she especially enjoys the rehearsals, as she is sharing the experience with her daughter Maisie (Juny in ?Speakeasy? ? the Kander & Ebb sequence). Judi says she hopes younger people will take a chance and come to see the show to get inspired and consider joining the company. ?Belmont is a welcoming group and encourages people of all ages and abilities to have a go at acting, directing, or taking part backstage or front of house. There are also marketing and publicity opportunities and much more. This is an excellent opportunity to start a life-long hobby that can easily be dipped in and out of at any time. It is not just a brilliant social activity, it also builds up self-confidence and gets you used to standing in front of an audience which is a useful skill throughout life. This show is fun to do and fun to see. It will make you laugh out loud?.

The Belmont Theatre company was founded in 1946 as a drama group for the Belmont Community Association in Harrow. From the early days when the group performed in church halls and then entertained its loyal audiences at the Harrow Arts Centre, it evolved into one of the leading drama groups in North West London. In 2007 the company moved to Watford to The Pump House Theatre. The group currently has 45 active members of all ages and is supported by its Patrons Club. Belmont Theatre continuously seeks to boost its membership and through regular open days encourages people to get involved in all aspects, both on and off stage. We would warmly welcome you to come along. This year we are also running workshops for all members, such as ?belly-dancing?, ?the art of telling a story? and more. Why not get in contact to find out.

E-mail: membership@belmonttheatre.co.uk or visit our website at www.belmonttheatre.co.uk .

Michael Collins, chairman for Belmont Theatre is seen here to the left holding the promotional poster for the show and he is joined by the full cast for The Musical of Musicals ? The Musical!

Belmont welcomes you at www.belmonttheatre.co.uk to book or email direct to boxoffice@belmonttheatre.co.uk or you can call the box office on: 0845 521 3453 alternatively call: 07917 324179

For the chance to WIN two free tickets to the show email: WIN to boxoffice@belmonttheatre.co.uk together with your name and contact details. (address and telephone number) We will contact the winner on 19th October and announce the winner on our home page website www.belmonttheatre.co.uk on Monday 20th October. Good Luck!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press contact: Britt Rees
07980-007979

Tickets are no longer available for this event