LISTINGS JUNE – JULY 2015
RAT PACK VEGAS SPECTACULAR
3 June 2015, 7.30pm
‘Purveyors of Cool’ return to Sunderland Empire with ‘The Greatest Music Of The 20th Century’. Wonderful memories of classic 60’s Las Vegas – Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis. Come Fly With Me, Sway, Mr Bojangles, Under My Skin and many more favourites. The BBC summed it up – ‘MAGNIFICENT’.
UNDER 16s FREE when accompanying an adult
(Price C only)
THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN
4 June 2015, 7.30pm
Britain’s biggest Motown spectacular returns with an all-new, all-star show. Featuring the music of the Four Tops, Supremes, Temptations, Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie and more. Five-star performances revive over 36 back-to-back hits with all the dazzling dance moves, glittering costume changes and musical brilliance of the original artistes.
AN EVENING OF BURLESQUE
5 June 2015, 8pm (Age Advisory 18+)
Britain’s No1 burlesque show goes global with the world’s biggest burlesque legends. It’s Vaudeville gone volatile: couture costumes, a steamy score, mind-boggling speciality acts and worldwide allstars in a wickedly hilarious extravaganza. As seen from Milan to Minsk, Zurich to St Petersburg, Helsinki to Dresden, join a thrill-a-minute, fun filled frolic into the bizarre world of burlesque, we dare you! Dress up and come to the cabaret.
ROY ORBISON & FRIENDS
6 June 2015, 7.30pm
Barry Steele is recognised as one of the world’s leading tributes to music legend Roy Orbison. He’s stunned audiences with his uncanny visual similarity and his ability to authentically revive the exquisite toe-tapping sound of this music giant. Using original film footage and backed by his fabulous band and big screen, this celebration of The Big O’s musical legacy is unmissable.
Joining Barry is the phenomenal Paul Molloy as Elvis Presley and the mesmerizing talent of Boogie Williams as Jerry Lee Lewis.
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
9 – 20 June 2015, various times
Audiences will be transported to the luxurious lap of the French Riviera when the West End spectacular Dirty Rotten Scoundrels graces the Sunderland Empire stage from 9th June. The decadent world of the sophisticated conman Lawrence Jameson (Michael Praed) is set to come crashing down with the arrival of larger-than-life Freddy Benson (Noel Sullivan) – a conman of an entirely different order.
With North East’s Mark Benton as the hilarious Andre, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels has been acclaimed by critics and audiences alike. Undoubtedly one of the biggest new musical openings to hit the West End stage, this indulgent and decedent comedy is a rare chance to return and relive the golden age of the classic musical.
Soon realising the town ain’t big enough for the both of them, Lawrence and Freddy find themselves going head to head in the con of their lives, pulling out all of the stops in a bid for the affections of millionaire soap heiress Christine Colgate (Carley Stenson). Little do they know what they’ve let themselves in for.
TOP HAT
24 June – 4 July 2015, various times
Direct from its tremendous success in the West End, winning three Olivier awards for Best New Musical, Best Choreography, Best Costumes and the Evening Standard Award for Best Night Out, this spectacular production is making its Sunderland debut this summer.
Top Hat brings the glamour of Hollywood’s golden age and the glorious, tap-dancing magic of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers to the stage in one of the greatest dance musicals of all time. Packed with Irving Berlin’s greatest hits including, Cheek to Cheek, Top Hat, White Tie & Tails, Let’s Face the Music & Dance and Puttin’ on the Ritz, this uplifting and hilarious romantic comedy dazzles with over 200 beautiful costumes, breathtaking dance and a love story that will set the pulse racing!
THE DREAMBOYS
9 July 2015, 7.30pm (Age Advisory 18+)
Following the biggest male strip show tour in UK history in 2014, The Dreamboys are back and hotter then ever with a brand new show. With special guest appearances on some of the UK’s biggest TV shows such as The X Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, Celebrity Big Brother, Loose Women, This Morning and The Only Way Is Essex and sold out worldwide tours, it’s no wonder they’ve earned themselves celebrity status.
THE CARPENTERS STORY
10 July 2015, 7.30pm
Widely regarded as the first ever ‘Tribute’ show back in its 1989 incarnation, Phil Aldridge’s lavish arrangements, stunning vocal harmonies and Claire Furley’s uncanny representation of Karen Carpenter combine to bring back memories of pop’s most melodic duo.
Featuring all the songs that made The Carpenters a legend in the world of music. Featuring We’ve Only Just Begun, I Won’t Last a Day Without You, Goodbye to Love, Top of the World, Please Mr Postman and lots more.
JIMMY CARR
11 July 2015, 8pm (Age advisory 16+)
Jimmy’s been described as ‘the hardest working man in comedy’, which, let’s face facts, is not that impressive. It’s like being the ‘Tallest Dwarf’ or the ‘Healthiest Glaswegian’. Really not that big a deal. Funny Business is Jimmy’s brand new stand up show. Come for the witty and incisive musings on the human condition; stay for the kn*b gags.
LOVE ME TENDER
13-18 July 2015, various times
From the producers of Hairspray, Midnight Tango, West Side Story and The Rocky Horror Show comes a hilarious, feel-good musical featuring Elvis Presley’s greatest hits. In a small town in 1950’s America, a guitar-playing, hip-swivelling stranger rides his motorbike into town. Is he The Devil In Disguise or a Hound Dog in his Blue Suede Shoes? The townsfolk are about to be All Shook Up
and could be headed for Heartbreak Hotel, but for Natalie, the love-struck, tomboy mechanic, it really is Now or Never.
Packed with 25 of the best loved songs by The King himself, Love Me Tender, by the writer of the award-winning West End and Broadway smash hit Memphis, is a funny and moving tale of hope, second chances and the healing qualities of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
THE DRIFTERS
23 July 2015, 7.30pm
Following on from the success of their recent tours, this new tour defines the evolution of the phenomenal story of The Drifters, through its music from the past to the present. This high energy show brings many of the greatest hits Under The Boardwalk, Saturday Night At The Movies, Up On The Roof, Kissin In The Back Row, Down on the Beach, More Than A Number In My Little Red Book, along with newer songs that have evolved through the first new recordings in over 30 years!
LOCAL PRODUCTIONS
Full details at atgtickets.com/sunderland
THE WORX
1 JUNE 7.15PM
FARRINGDON PRIMARY – THREE BECOME ONE
2 JUNE 6.30PM
NCDTA 90TH ANNIVERSARY SHOWCASE
21 JUNE 2.30PM & 6.30PM
SHAMEEM KARIM – DANCE EXPLOSION
7 JULY 7PM
SUNDERLAND SCHOOLS DANCE FESTIVAL
8 JULY 1.30PM
NORTHERN STAR – GALAXY OF STARS
20 JULY 7PM
KATHLEEN KNOX – 30 YEARS OF DANCE
22 JULY 7PM
KATHLEEN DAVIS – A SUMMERTIME SPECIAL
25 JULY 7.15PM
AUGUST 2015 ONWARDS AT A GLANCE
THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME 11-15 August 2015
PRISICLLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT 31 August – 5 September 2015
JERSEY BOYS 8-19 September 2015
SWAN LAKE 22-24 October 2015
SHREK THE MUSICAL 11-22 November 2015
All tickets can be purchased in person from the Box Office on High Street West, Sunderland, the Ticket Centre on 0844 871 3022* and online at www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland*
*A booking/transaction fees apply to telephone and online sales.