News
CORONATION STREET COMES TO LIFE IN "STREET OF DREAMS"
THE WORLD PREMIERE
 A
spectacular live arena concert, starring super-fan Paul O'Grady- Stars of yesteryear to feature in the show alongside current
Corrie cast
- Guest star performers will play iconic role of Elsie Tanner
Reckless Entertainment, in association with ITV Studios, today
announced "Street of Dreams", a major live musical event in
celebration of Coronation Street which will debut in Manchester for
a spectacular world premiere next March starring faces from the street
- past and present, hosted by Paul O'Grady.
After more than fifty years on air, Britain's best-loved soap has a
glorious heritage of unforgettable stories and iconic characters which
have been handpicked and now carefully crafted in to this brilliant
musical event by award-winning musical writer, composer and lyricist,
Trisha Ward.
BAFTA winning film and stage Director, John Stephenson OBE ("5
Children & IT" and "Animal Farm"), will direct the
live musical tribute, which is to be staged on an ambitious scale with
a spectacular set and special visual effects at Manchester's M.E.N Arena.
A 25 piece orchestra, a West End cast and choreography from Olivier
award winning Stephen Mear will complete the dazzling production which
has been co-scripted by Damon Rochefort ("Coronation Street"
& "Birds of a Feather"). The show will be executive produced
by Kieran Roberts for ITV Studios and John Ward for Reckless Entertainment.
Paul O'Grady will feature as the star host, guiding us through momentous
events in Corrie's history in his own inimitable style. He will bump
into well-loved characters, old and new, with guest stars paying homage
to famous roles, as he leads the show to a dramatic finale.
Julie Goodyear MBE will be making a highly anticipated return to play
the one and only Bet Lynch, complete with her trademark beehive, big
earrings and penchant for leopard-skin. Corrie favourite Kevin Kennedy,
a singing star who has made a critically lauded name for himself on
the West End stage since his departure from the cobbles, will return
to his role as loveable intellectual stargazer, Curly Watts and the
effortlessly brilliant Brian Capron will resurrect renowned serial killer,
Richard Hillman from the dead.
Stars
from the current cast; William Roache MBE (Ken Barlow) and Katy Cavanagh
(Julie Carp) to name but a few, will appear alongside their former neighbours
as they take a trip down memory lane, encapsulating unforgettable Weatherfield
moments through 90 minutes of spectacular song and dance routines, supported
by a West End cast.
The show is based up on the critically acclaimed album: Coronation Street
- Rogues, Angels Heroes & Fools which was released last Christmas
for Coronation Street's 50th Anniversary featuring the Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra and crafted by "Street of Dreams" writer, Trisha
Ward.
Songs included in the show are: Tony Warren's iconic ‘Opening
Episode" featuring Ena Sharples, Elsie Tanner, & Annie Walker,
"Woman Stanley Woman" - Hilda & Stan's posh second honeymoon
at the Savoy Hotel, ‘He's My Man" - a catfight on the cobbles
between love rivals Elsie Tanner & Bet Lynch, "Norman Bates
With A Briefcase" - featuring serial killer Richard Hillman. ‘Cunning
Clever Crafty' - Jack & Vera's "blind date" with Jack
as the suave ‘Vince Fontaine' and spectacular "Moulin Rouge"
homage -"Sweet Butterfly" featuring love-lorn knicker factory
worker, Sean Tully.
Composer, Trisha Ward said: "It has been an absolute pleasure to
work with Kieran Roberts on this amazing project which has been in development
for over 3 years. It's a musical homage to an incredible programme,
which has been both a joy and exciting challenge to compose. Coronation
Street lends itself so well to musicalisation because it has all the
ingredients a great musical requires; humour, pathos but most importantly
of all - heart. I'm so incredibly proud and excited to be bringing this
production to Corrie's home city of Manchester for the world premiere."
Executive Producer, Kieran Roberts of ITV Studios said: "I'm thrilled
to be involved with Street of Dreams. Trisha Ward's wonderful music
and lyrics are a very fitting celebration of Coronation Street's history,
its great storylines and its unforgettable characters. Paul O' Grady
is one of Britain's most prolific, talented and best-loved entertainers
and he's a genuine, life-long Corrie fan so I'm equally delighted he
will guide the audience through this entertaining and spectacular musical
celebration of Britain's best-loved drama."
Paul O'Grady said: "I'm a great fan of the street!! I've watched
it for most of my life! Chunks of script from 30 years ago are engraved
in my memory so to relive it all alongside unforgettable characters
and talent on the stage, revisiting such iconic scenes from across the
years, is just brilliant. I can't wait to watch it all come together
and the reaction it receives."
"Street of Dreams" will debut at Manchester's M.E.N
Arena on Wednesday 21st March 2012 with the world premiere VIP event
on Thursday 22nd March. Tickets go on sale at www.men-arena.com / 0844
847 8000 from 9am on Friday 9th December.
- ENDS -
For any additional press enquiries, further information and interview
requests with talent, please contact Nikki Murray, PR Manager for Reckless
Entertainment and ITV Studios on nicola.murray@itv.com, DD: 0161 952
6222, M: 07725 131389
Pictures are available for download at www.itv.com/presscentre. For
additional requests please contact Nikki Murray as above.Notes to editor:
"Street of Dreams" is a Reckless Entertainment original production
and is being produced in association with ITV Studio's.
Reckless Entertainment had its genesis when brother and sister team,
John Ward and Trisha Ward decided to combine their mutual talents and
backgrounds in television and theatre respectively and form a production
company in 2002. They decided to set up the company to produce high
quality television, music, film and theatre with a mutual vision to
cross-promote their projects across these diverse genres. The company
has worked with many TV household names including Simon Cowell, Sarah
Jessica Parker and Sharon Gless and on the music side, classical Brit
award winning producer Rupert Christie, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,
as well as close collaborator BAFTA award winning director John Stephenson.
Stage projects include Trisha Ward's "Sleeping Beauty" at
Sadler's Wells and "Lonely Hearts", her critically acclaimed
modern musical.
ITV STUDIOS is the largest and most successful commercial production
company in the United Kingdom, creating over 2,000 hours of original
programming each year. Building on a heritage of over 50 years of quality
programme-making, ITV Studios produces across a wide range of genres
– from drama and entertainment, to factual and lifestyle including
Coronation Street, I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Emmerdale,
This Morning, Vera, The Jury, Dancing on Ice and Come Dine With Me.
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