Blackpool’s Grand Theatre announces sensational new shows for 2010 including Dirk Benedict as super sleuth Lt Columbo and the return of opera with La Bohème and The Marriage of Figaro
Visit Blackpool’s beautiful Grand Theatre and you will experience everything from opera, plays, comedies, musicals, murder mysteries and contemporary drama to fun children’s shows and of course pantomime!
Just announced! Lieutenant Columbo is back on the case at Blackpool’s Grand from Tuesday 11th May to Saturday 15th May! Dirk Benedict (The A Team, Battlestar Galactica) stars as the iconic shambling sleuth alongside Patrick Ryecart in Prescription: Murder – the first case ever written for Columbo and the original stage play which became the pilot episode for the legendary TV series. Psychiatrist Roy Fleming is celebrating his wedding anniversary when he is called away with a female patient. On returning he has to soothe his angry wife with a vacation, but Fleming’s wife is soon found dead and Lt Columbo is called in to investigate. It isn’t long before the seeds of doubt are planted in his mind. Just one more thing…
Also just announced is the welcome return of opera to Blackpool’s Grand Theatre with Co-Opera Company bringing Puccini’s La Bohème on Friday 12th November and Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro on Saturday 13th November. Whether this is your first taste of Puccini’s masterpiece or you are a connoisseur of his tragic yet beautiful opera, you will adore this celebration of all things youthful. William Relton’s inspired direction takes you on a heart-breaking journey, while Puccini’s glorious melodies echo the innocence and petulance, the passion and despair, the optimism and loss which are the potent ingredients in this classic tale of love. Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro has often been referred to as one of the three perfect ‘popular’ operas. Its heady mix of comedy and pathos, lust and love, betrayal and social intrigue is every bit as powerful and relevant today as it was in the 18th century.
Add to that the hilarious holiday camp antics of Hi-de-Hi starring original TV cast members Barry Howard and Nikki Kelly; the magical musical adaptation of the best-selling picture book The Gruffalo; a fabulous new stage production of TV’s hugely successful social comedy Keeping Up Appearances with an all-star cast to be announced; fizztickling family fun with Roald Dahl’s George’s Marvellous Medicine; a wonderful whistle-stop tour of the greatest tap dance moments in show business history with Tap Dance Fever and the delightful domestic comedy Wife Begins at Forty starring Vicki Michelle, Mark Curry, Anita Graham, Trevor Bannister, Brian Godfrey and Damian Hunt which opens at Blackpool’s Grand prior to its national tour!
And a spectacular season of one night stands with the musical rock theatre spectacular Vampire’s Rock starring Steve Steinman; the Hairy Bikers Big Night Out with Simon King and Dave Myers cooking up a storm live on stage; celebrity psychic Sally Morgan back by popular demand direct from her new smash hit TV series Psychic Sally: On The Road; feathers, Frank Sinatra and fabulous big band swing with One Night in Vegas and the brand new singing and dancing stage family show The Little Big Club starring Barney, Bob the Builder, Angelina Ballerina, Pingu, Fifi Forget-me-Not and Fireman Sam.
Blackpool’s Grand also welcomes back Blackpool Operatic Players with the marvellous musical love story Mack and Mabel; Blackpool & Fylde Light Opera Company with Disney’s enchanting Beauty and the Beast; nostalgic pleasure and madcap mayhem with Dad’s Army Marches On starring Leslie Grantham (EastEnders’ Dirty Den) as Pte Walker in commemoration of Veterans’ Week 2010; UK Productions with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s barnstorming musical Oklahoma! starring West End legend Marti Webb and Mark Evans (BBC’s Your Country Needs You) and Ian Dickens Productions with the comedy thriller Murdered to Death starring Graham Cole (The Bill) and Sandra Dickinson (Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) and darkly hilarious Nightfright starring Paul Opacic (Emmerdale, Bad Girls) and Ben Roberts (The Bill).
And you can’t forget the Grand Theatre’s fantastic family pantomime. On no you can’t!Aladdin This year’s fun-filled panto is jam-packed with music, dance, laughter, fabulous costumes and lavish sets and will star the hilarious Steve Royle (BBC Radio Lancashire) as Wishee Washee with a full star line–up to be announced.
There really is something for everyone! And there’s much more on offer in the brand new brochure available to pick up at the Grand Theatre Box Office now or online at www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk
Grand Theatre General Manager and Chief Executive, Neil Thomson, said: “Welcome to the Grand’s exciting show line-up for 2010. We are especially pleased to see the return of local firm F Parkinson Ltd as one of our sponsors, who helped us bring the Woman In Black back to our theatre and to hear opera in the Grand again with Co-Opera’s La Bohème and Marriage of Figaro – a new and dynamic company. The Grand is your community theatre and we look forward to seeing you here soon!”
For full 2010 show information and bookings please call the Grand Theatre Box Office on 01253 290190, click on the website www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk or visit the Grand Theatre information sales point in the Houndshill Shopping Centre.
