Wales Millennium Centre News – FEBRUARY 2020
- JOIN WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE FOR SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS THIS ST DAVID’S DAY
- FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
- AMBER DAVIES AND LOUIS SMITH TO STAR IN BRING IT ON THE MUSICAL
- CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR SISTER ACT
- DARREN DAY JOINS THE CAST OF FOOTLOOSE THE MUSICAL
- FESTIVAL OF VOICE IS BACK
- NEW SHOW! SCHOOL OF ROCK COMES TO WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE
JOIN WALES MILLENNIUM CENRE FOR SPECIAL CELEBRATIONS THIS ST DAVID’S DAY
To mark St. David’s Day 2020 on Sunday 1 March, Wales Millennium Centre will present Dy Gymru/ Your Wales on its iconic Donald Gordon Theatre stage. Free and open to all, Dy Gymru/Your Wales will showcase different Welsh identities and explore what it means to be Welsh.
Hosted bilingually by youth-led Radio Platfform, the event will give audiences a rare opportunity to see the freshest talents and grassroots artists from across Wales perform a multilingual variety of performances on a spectacular stage. The line-up will include
Sing Proud Cymru; Quaynotes; Barracwda; Jukebox Collective; Wales Tamil Sangam Dancers and more.
Performances will take place 3pm-8pm and audiences will be able to drop in and out throughout the day or stay as long as they like. There will be special offers on refreshments available at the Centre’s own coffee shop, Caffi, all day.
Your Wales/Dy Gymru will be at Wales Millennium Centre on Sunday 1 March.
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FULL CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
Full casting has been announced for the UK and Ireland tour of the worldwide smash-hit musical, Million Dollar Quartet. Based on the famous recording session that brought together Rock‘n’Roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the FIRST and ONLY time, Robbie Durham (Johnny Cash), Ross William Wild (Elvis Presley), Matthew Wycliffe (Carl Perkins) and Katie Ray (Dyanne), with the role of Jerry Lee Lewis shared across the tour by Ashley Carruthers, Martin Kaye and Matthew Wycliffe, all return to the stage in their much celebrated roles in this Tony Award winning musical.
The multi-talented cast of actor-musicians join previously announced national treasure Peter Duncan, whoalso returns to the much loved musical. The Olivier Award nominee and former Blue Peter presenter reprises the role of the Father of Rock’n’Roll’, Sam Phillips, following rave reviews for his performance in the musical’s 2017 UK tour.
On December 4, 1956, history was made when these four ‘star’ musicians gathered at Sun Records in Memphis, the studios of legendary record producer Sam Phillips, for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions of all time. Million Dollar Quartet brings that legendary night to life, with its extraordinary story of broken promises, secrets, and the once-in-a-lifetime celebration of four acclaimed recording artists.
Million Dollar Quartet will be at Wales Millennium Centre 21-25 April.
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AMBER DAVIES AND LOUIS SMITH TO STAR IN BRING IT ON THE MUSICAL
Selladoor Worldwide is delighted to announce that Amber Davies will star as ‘Campbell’ alongside Louis Smith as ‘Cameron’ in the upcoming UK and Ireland tour of Bring It On The Musical.
Inspired by the 2000 film of the same name, Bring It On The Musical features an original score by the multi award winning creator of “Hamilton”, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Pulitzer Prize winning Tom Kitt, composer of “Next To Normal”. The book is written by the Tony Award winning writer of “Avenue Q”, Jeff Whitty and the lyrics are by both Lin-Manuel Miranda and writer of the stage adaptation of “High Fidelity”, Amanda Green.
Bring It On The Musical takes audiences on a high-flying, energy-fuelled journey which tackles friendship, jealousy, betrayal and forgiveness – wrapped up in explosive choreography and tricks.
Cheer-royalty and newly crowned Squad Captain, Campbell, should be embarking on her most cheertastic senior year at Truman High School. When she’s forced to move to the neighbouring hard-knock Jackson High, Campbell fears her life is over. But an unlikely friendship catapults Campbell back into contention with a powerhouse squad and the fire to achieve the impossible.
Bring It On The Musical will be at Wales Millennium Centre 23-27 June.
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CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR SISTER ACT
Producers Jamie Wilson and Whoopi Goldberg are delighted to announce that Lesley Joseph and Brenda Edwards will join the cast for the UK and Ireland tour of the smash-hit musical, “SISTER ACT”. The show will come to Wales Millennium Centre 12-17 October.
Lesley Joseph will play the role of ‘Mother Superior’ and will star alongside Brenda Edwards as ‘Deloris Van Cartier’.
Based on the iconic movie, this sparkling tribute to the universal power of friendship, sisterhood and music tells the hilarious story of the disco diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a murder. Under protective custody she is hidden in the one place she won’t be found – a convent! Disguised as a nun and under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own.
Sister Act will be at Wales Millennium Centre 12-17 October.
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DARREN DAY JOINS THE CAST OF FOOTLOOSE THE MUSICAL
Musical theatre favourite Darren Day will join the cast of Footloose The Musical as Reverend Moore in the brand-new UK Tour coming to Wales Millennium Centre 19-24 October.
Darren will join additional cast including; Geri Allen, Holly Ashton, Jess Barker, Ben Barrow, Alex Fobbester, Josh Hawkins, Lucy Ireland. Evie Rose Lane, Ben Mabberley, Daniel Miles, Tom Mussell, Samantha Richards, Dionne Ward Anderson and Anna West Lake.
City boy Ren thinks life is bad enough when he’s forced to move to a rural backwater in America. But his world comes to a standstill when he arrives at Bomont to find dancing and rock music are banned. Taking matters into his own hands, soon Ren has all hell breaking loose and the whole town on its feet.
Based on the 1980s screen sensation which took the world by storm, Footloose The Musical sizzles with spirit, fun and the best in UK musical talent. With cutting edge modern choreography, you’ll enjoy classic 80s hits including Holding Out for a Hero, Almost Paradise, Let’s Hear It For The Boy and of course the unforgettable title track Footloose.
Footloose The Musical will be presented by Selladoor Productions and Runaway Entertainment, and will be directed by Racky Plews, with choreography from Matt Cole, musical supervision by Mark Crossland and design by Sara Perks with lighting design from Chris Davey and sound design from Chris Whybrow.
Footloose the Musical will come to Wales Millennium Centre 19-24 October.
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FESTIVAL OF VOICE IS BACK
Festival of Voice – Wales Millennium Centre’s flagship international arts festival – is returning to Cardiff Bay across the last weekend of October 2020 with a new format.
Across four days, audiences will be treated to a wealth of performances and events exploring everything the voice can do and how important it is to have one. They’ll have the option of buying day or full weekend wristbands, giving access to more than 60 performances in Wales Millennium Centre and Portland House, located within a few minutes’ walk of each other.
Cate Le Bon will join this year’s festival as both a performer and a guest curator for part of the programme – bringing her own eclectic selection of voices from around the world.
The line-up – which will be announced in full in the summer – will include incredible live music, thought-provoking performance and inspirational talks, immersing the audience in a global chorus of voices.
Early Bird Weekend Passes for Festival of Voice 2020 are on sale at www.wmc.org.uk/voice as of 9am on Wednesday 19 February 2020.
Festival of Voice will take place 29 October-1 November.
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NEW SHOW! SCHOOL OF ROCK COMES TO WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE
School of Rock – The Musical, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s smash hit, award-winning West End show, will go on a major UK Tour in 2021, coming to Wales Millennium Centre 12-17 April 2021.
Based on the hilarious hit movie, this new musical follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn a few extra bucks by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. There he turns a class of straight-A students into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band – sensationally performed live by the production’s young actors every night with roof-raising energy!
The production opened at the New London Theatre (now the Gillian Lynne Theatre) in November 2016 to 5-star reviews and widespread critical acclaim. It went on to win the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Music. The Broadway production recently concluded its run at the Winter Garden Theatre with a US national touring production continuing. An Australian production opened at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne last October.
School of Rock – The Musical features new music written by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics by Glenn Slater (The Little Mermaid, Sister Act) and a book by Julian Fellowes. It is directed by Laurence Connor (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, London Palladium 2019) with choreography by JoAnn M.Hunter, set and costume designs by Anna Louizos, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Mick-Potter, music supervision by John Rigby with Matt Smith as musical director.
School of Rock – The Musical will be at Wales Millennium Centre 12-17 April 2021.