Dreamboats and Petticoats
Encyclopedia
Dreamboats and Petticoats is a jukebox musical
based on popular songs from the fifties and early sixties. The musical, featuring those songs of the rock 'n' roll
era, is set around the years 1957 to 1963 and was written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran.
It was first performed at The Churchill Theatre in Bromley in February 2009 followed by a UK tour. This run received rave critical reviews and widespread audience acclaim. Therefore, it subsequently moved to the Savoy Theatre
in London
's West End
from July to September in 2009 and has since returned to London at its new location at the Playhouse Theatre
; where it currently plays. A second national tour has just finished touring the UK.
Well-over a million people have been reported to have seen the show.
The West End production is currently booking until 26 November 2011.
, reportedly saw a niche in the market for older audiences who preferred the music of their teenage years in comparison to the seemingly inaccessible youth-driven playlists on current radio stations. Berg saw the adaptation of a stage musical as a move that "would enhance the brand" and therefore got in touch with Bill Kenwright
, producer Laurie Mansfield and writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran
to pen the book of the show. He had "the basic idea of youth clubs and nostalgia and a songwriting competition" as the basis of the show because he was a teenager in the sixties who attended a local youth club in Finsbury Park, north London. He added, "As kids growing up in the Sixties we all played in bands, I was a drummer in The Sound Barrier, the greatest unsigned band of the Sixties."
Dreamboats and Petticoats was first performed in London at the Savoy Theatre
on 22 July 2009. The run terminated on 31 October 2009 to make way for Legally Blonde
.
After a three-month hiatus, the musical found a new location at the Playhouse Theatre
on 6 January 2010. It currently plays there.
The cast were:
The cast were:
Act II
of the original London cast was released on 1 December 2009. It was recorded live, in front of audiences, at the Savoy Theatre.
.
Jukebox musical
A jukebox musical is a stage or film musical that uses previously released popular songs as its musical score. Usually the songs have in common a connection with a particular popular musician or group — either because they were written by, or for, the artists in question, or were at least...
based on popular songs from the fifties and early sixties. The musical, featuring those songs of the rock 'n' roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
era, is set around the years 1957 to 1963 and was written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran.
It was first performed at The Churchill Theatre in Bromley in February 2009 followed by a UK tour. This run received rave critical reviews and widespread audience acclaim. Therefore, it subsequently moved to the Savoy Theatre
Savoy Theatre
The Savoy Theatre is a West End theatre located in the Strand in the City of Westminster, London, England. The theatre opened on 10 October 1881 and was built by Richard D'Oyly Carte on the site of the old Savoy Palace as a showcase for the popular series of comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan,...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
from July to September in 2009 and has since returned to London at its new location at the Playhouse Theatre
Playhouse Theatre
The Playhouse Theatre is a West End theatre in the City of Westminster, located in Northumberland Avenue, near Trafalgar Square. The Theatre was built by F. H. Fowler and Hill with a seating capacity of 1,200. It was rebuilt in 1907 and still retains its original substage machinery...
; where it currently plays. A second national tour has just finished touring the UK.
Well-over a million people have been reported to have seen the show.
The West End production is currently booking until 26 November 2011.
Synopsis
In 1961 emotions run high as young musicians Norman and Bobby compete to win a national song writing competition – and, more importantly, the attention of the gorgeous Sue! But when Bobby discovers that shy Laura is no slouch on the piano, love and rock 'n' roll fame beckons...Development
After spending several weeks at the number one spot in the UK Compilation Charts and with over two million copies sold of the first album, the unexpected success of Dreamboats and Petticoats CD series made producers of the series to consider a stage musical adaptation. Brian Berg, the managing director of Universal Music TV (UMTV) and director of Universal Music UKUniversal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
, reportedly saw a niche in the market for older audiences who preferred the music of their teenage years in comparison to the seemingly inaccessible youth-driven playlists on current radio stations. Berg saw the adaptation of a stage musical as a move that "would enhance the brand" and therefore got in touch with Bill Kenwright
Bill Kenwright
Bill Kenwright CBE is a leading West End theatre producer and film producer.He is also the Chairman of Everton Football Club, an English professional football club from the city of Liverpool....
, producer Laurie Mansfield and writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran
Maurice Gran
Maurice Bernard Gran is one half of writing duo Marks & Gran. He co-wrote popular sitcoms The New Statesman, Birds of a Feather and Goodnight Sweetheart with Laurence Marks. He is also the co-author of Prudence at Number 10, a fictional diary supposedly written by Gordon Brown's P.A.-External links:...
to pen the book of the show. He had "the basic idea of youth clubs and nostalgia and a songwriting competition" as the basis of the show because he was a teenager in the sixties who attended a local youth club in Finsbury Park, north London. He added, "As kids growing up in the Sixties we all played in bands, I was a drummer in The Sound Barrier, the greatest unsigned band of the Sixties."
London (2009–present)
Savoy Theatre
The Savoy Theatre is a West End theatre located in the Strand in the City of Westminster, London, England. The theatre opened on 10 October 1881 and was built by Richard D'Oyly Carte on the site of the old Savoy Palace as a showcase for the popular series of comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan,...
on 22 July 2009. The run terminated on 31 October 2009 to make way for Legally Blonde
Legally Blonde (musical)
Legally Blonde is a musical with music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin and book by Heather Hach. The story is based on the novel Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown and the 2001 film of the same name. It tells the story of Elle Woods, a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to...
.
| Role | Original | 2010-11 | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bobby | Scott Bruton | Alexis Gerred | Scott Bruton |
| Laura | Daisy Wood-Davis | Megan Jones | Charlotte Jeffery |
| Norman | Ben Freeman | Bradley Clarkson | Sam Attwater |
| Sue | Jennifer Biddle | Emma Stephens | Susannah Allman |
| Ray | A.J Dean | A.J Dean | David Gale |
| Donna | Emma Hatton | Jess Ellerby | Gemma Salter |
| Older Bobby/Phil | David Cardy | Jimmy Johnston | Des O'Connor |
| Derek | Patrick Burbridge | Patrick Burbridge | Patrick Burbridge |
| Daisy | Sophie Byrne | Bethany Compson-Bradford | Claire McGarahan |
| Barry | Robin Johnson | Kris Hudson | Kris Hudson |
| Colin | Michael Kantola | Michael Kantola | Michael Kantola |
| Andy | Adam Welsh | Tim Jackson | Joey Hickman |
| Richard | Sam Palladio | Michael Paver | Richie Hart |
| Eric | Stuart Ward | Alan Howell | Alan Howell |
| Frank/Slugger/Compare | Mike Lloyd | Mike Lloyd | Mike Lyoyd |
| Babs | Wendy Paver | Jessica Dyas | Jessica Dyas |
| Jeremy | Andrew Venning | ROLE CUT | |
| Helen | Deborah Hewwet | ROLE CUT |
Playhouse Theatre
The Playhouse Theatre is a West End theatre in the City of Westminster, located in Northumberland Avenue, near Trafalgar Square. The Theatre was built by F. H. Fowler and Hill with a seating capacity of 1,200. It was rebuilt in 1907 and still retains its original substage machinery...
on 6 January 2010. It currently plays there.
First UK tour (2009)
Opening on 19 February 2009 at The Churchill Theatre in Bromley, Dreamboats and Petticoats had a successful run in theatres across the UK for five months. This tour finished on 18 July 2009 at the Sunderland Empire in Sunderland. Upon finishing, the production, due to heavy demand and unexpected success, moved to the West End for a three month run. This production, therefore, had the same cast as the original London cast.Second UK tour (2010)
Again starting at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley, Dreamboats and Petticoats enjoyed another tour of the UK. This time with an alternative cast to the first time. The tour started on 19 January 2010 and played its last performance on 4 December 2010 in Grimsby.The cast were:
| Role | Jan-Jul | Aug-Dec |
|---|---|---|
| Bobby | Josh Capper | Josh Capper |
| Laura | Daniella Bowen | Daniella Bowen |
| Norman | Jonathan Bremner | Jonathan Bremner |
| Sue | Carolynne Good | Francesca Jackson |
| Ray | Gareth Leighton | Wayne Smith |
| Donna | Clare Ivory | Emily Goodenough |
| Older Bobby/Phil | Anthony Clegg | Oliver Beamish |
| Derek | Ben Tolley | Tristan Pate |
| Daisy | Bethany Compson-Bradford | Claire McGarahan |
| Barry | Daniel Graham | Charlie Wade |
| Colin | Chris Coxon | Chris Coxon |
| Andy | Tim Jackson | Greg Last |
| Richard | Alan Howell | Alan Howell |
| Eric | Glen Joseph | Glen Joseph |
| Frank/Slugger/Compare | Simon Nock | Jem Dobbs |
| Babs | Lauren Storer | Jessica Dyas |
| Jeremy | Michael Paver | Michael Paver |
| Swing | Katie Pritchard | Lauren Morgan |
Third UK tour (2011)
A third tour started in June 2011, opening at the Theatre Royal, Windsor.The cast were:
| Role | June - December | |
|---|---|---|
| Bobby | David Ribi | |
| Laura | Samantha Dorrance | |
| Norman | Ben James Ellis | |
| Sue | Katie Birtill | |
| Ray | Josh Little | |
| Donna | Anna Campkin | |
| Older Bobby/Phil | Graeme Henderson | |
| Derek | Tristan Pate | |
| Daisy | Francesca Loren | |
| Barry | Christopher Wheeler | |
| Colin | Chris Coxon | |
| Andy | Adam Day Howard | |
| Richard | Matthew Quinn | |
| Eric | James Nitti | |
| Frank/Slugger/Compare | Chris Fry | |
| Babs | Emily O'Keeffe | |
| Jeremy | Robbie Durham | |
| Swing | Lauren Morgan |
Future Productions
Brian Berg, the executive producer for Universal records has stated that there are plans for productions in the US and Australia and the possibility of a feature film in 2012.Musical numbers
Act I- Overture - Band (The Conquests)
- Let's Dance - Bobby
- The Wanderer - Norman
- Jezebel - Donna
- To Know Him Is to Love Him - Laura
- Good Timin' - Norman
- You Won't Catch Me Crying - Bobby
- Dream Baby Dream - Laura
- You Won't Catch Me Crying (reprise) - Laura
- Wonderful Land - Band (The Conquests)
- Shakin' All Over - Sue & Norman
- In Dreams - Bobby
- In Dreams (reprise) - Bobby
- Bobby's Girl - Ray & Donna
- Palisades Park - The Company
- Little Town Flirt - Phil & Ray
- Sweet Nothin's - Sue & Donna
- Runaway / Who's Sorry Now? - Bobby & Laura
- Poetry in Motion - Ray
- It's Only Make Believe Laura
- Do You Wanna Dance? The Company
Act II
- Entr'acte - Band (The Conquests)
- Dream Lover - Older Bobby & Bobby
- Great Pretender - Norman
- Only the Lonely - Bobby
- Donna - Ray
- Teenager in Love - Laura
- Runaround Sue - Bobby, Ray & Band (The Conquests)
- Shop Around - Phil
- Dreamboats and Petticoats (short) - Bobby
- Only Sixteen - Bobby
- Da Do Ron Ron - Donna, Sue, & The Company
- Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen - The Company
- Wonderful World - Laura & Bobby
- Quarter to Three - Ray
- You Don't Know - Sue
- Let It Be Me - Bobby & Laura
- Where the Angels Go - The Carnegie Sisters
- Dreamboats and Petticoats - Bobby & Laura
- Let's Twist Again - Norman
- C'mon Everybody - Ray
- At the Hop - The Company
Recordings
A live cast recordingCast recording
A cast recording is a recording of a musical that is intended to document the songs as they were performed in the show and experienced by the audience. An original cast recording, as the name implies, features the voices of the show's original cast...
of the original London cast was released on 1 December 2009. It was recorded live, in front of audiences, at the Savoy Theatre.
Critical reception
The London production received mixed reviews, with most critics concluding that the show was a light-hearted jukebox musical well-suited to an older audience. Quentin Letts at The Daily Mail described Dreamboats and Petticoats as "pacy, as shallow as a paddling pool, and innocent fun – particularly for those who lived through the songs first time round.”Awards and nominations
The West End production was nominated for Best New Musical at the 2010 Laurence Olivier Awards2010 Laurence Olivier Awards
The 2010 Olivier Awards were held on 21 March 2010 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.-Award winners and nominees:*Best Actress**Rachel Weisz, A Streetcar Named Desire - Donmar Warehouse**Gillian Anderson, A Doll's House - Donmar Warehouse...
.