I know it's only July but I got to thinking about the panto script and whether there was any chance of a sneak preview. So, I contacted Sleeping Beauty Director Michael Harrison this morning for a panto catch up. Here's what he had to say:
"I'm pleased to say even though its only July the first draft of the script for SLEEPING BEAUTY is finished! Joe Pasquale and I got together last week to go through all of the things he will be doing in the show and he came up with some great ideas which will see him doing lots of new material in the panto this year.
It's a mad show for Joe - he's got a lot to do especially in Act Two when nearly everyone else has been put to sleep after the Princess pricks her finger! It's up to Muddles and Lady Passionella to save the day, so Act Two is full of business between Joe and Ceri which the audience will hopefully enjoy.
Olly Ashmore our musical supervisor and composer has been working hard creating the score for us which is now nearly set. It's a mixture of classic songs you'll all know and some original material to help the plot move along. I'm not a fan of songs that don't fit into a panto, or are there for no reason, so Olly and I spend hours routining the show so everything makes sense.
I'm yet to have a proper sit down with Ray Quinn who is busy as Danny in GREASE in the West End at the moment. He and I will get together soon to discuss the musical numbers he's involved with. He's got two very different styles of solo in the show as well as several other company numbers.
Ceri Dupree and I have had yet another meeting. I meet regularly with all of the Dames I work with in panto. When there is so much resting on the costumes they wear it's vital that the script and the costumes marry up in the correct way. The costumes also cost a small fortune so it's important to get them right. I dread to think how much Ceri's will cost in the end - it's already tens of thousands, but if you are going to have the most glamerous Dame in panto you have to go for it!
Ceri's designs have been on my desk for a while now and everyone who comes into the office takes the time to look at them. There are 22 changes at the last count which I think must be some sort of record. There is very little time for him to change in between each one as I like panto to go "like a train" - very fast so nothing drags too long.
Next time I report I will have been to our scenery and costume stores in Yorkshire and I'll let you know how all of that is coming along. There's lots of new scenery being designed and built this year as well as some stunning new costumes (well Ceri can't be the only one in a nice frock!) and then after that there should be some news on the 3d and the special effects that will be in the show".
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
Thursday, 9 July 2009
The Characters in Sleeping Beauty
You may remember I mentioned Michael Harrison in my previous blog (he's our pantomime Director). He contacted me this week to say he'd had quite a few requests for a character breakdown. So Michael kindly put the following together - a sort of who's who of pantomime and how they fit into the plot.
Muddles, played by Joe Pasquale is the court jester. He's madly in love with Beauty and will be called upon at some point to save the day! Expect some manic comedy as always from Joe and hilarious routines with Ceri.
The Prince, played by Ray Quinn is from a nearby kingdom. He was friends with the Princess as a child and has fallen in love with her again. Ray has some great musical numbers lined up in the show.
Lady Passionella is Princess Beauty's governess and mother of Muddles. She came to live at the castle when the curse was put upon the Princess. The costumes are wonderful and at the last count Ceri will change 22 times during the show.
Princess Beauty played by Lucy Evans is made to stay within the Palace grounds. She doesn't know about the curse and has never seen a spinning wheel... Until now!
Carabosse is yet to be cast. She is the evil fairy who casts the evil curse. This part is currently on offer to one of musical theatres leading ladies and an announcement is expected soon.
Slimeball played by Christopher Howell is Carabosse's son. He loves beautiful ladies, especially celebrities!
The Enchantress will be announced soon. She is Carabosse's opposite number. A good spirit.
The King and Queen are yet to be cast. Beauty's parents who for 18 years have tried to protect her from pricking her finger.
Thanks Michael - looking forward to finding out who is going to be playing Carabosse!
Muddles, played by Joe Pasquale is the court jester. He's madly in love with Beauty and will be called upon at some point to save the day! Expect some manic comedy as always from Joe and hilarious routines with Ceri.
The Prince, played by Ray Quinn is from a nearby kingdom. He was friends with the Princess as a child and has fallen in love with her again. Ray has some great musical numbers lined up in the show.
Lady Passionella is Princess Beauty's governess and mother of Muddles. She came to live at the castle when the curse was put upon the Princess. The costumes are wonderful and at the last count Ceri will change 22 times during the show.
Princess Beauty played by Lucy Evans is made to stay within the Palace grounds. She doesn't know about the curse and has never seen a spinning wheel... Until now!
Carabosse is yet to be cast. She is the evil fairy who casts the evil curse. This part is currently on offer to one of musical theatres leading ladies and an announcement is expected soon.
Slimeball played by Christopher Howell is Carabosse's son. He loves beautiful ladies, especially celebrities!
The Enchantress will be announced soon. She is Carabosse's opposite number. A good spirit.
The King and Queen are yet to be cast. Beauty's parents who for 18 years have tried to protect her from pricking her finger.
Thanks Michael - looking forward to finding out who is going to be playing Carabosse!
Monday, 29 June 2009
June - must be panto launch time!
We launched the Sleeping Beauty pantomime earlier this month. Joe Pasquale, Ray Quinn, Ceri Dupree and Lucy Evans took time out of busy schedules to head up the motorway to the Hippodrome to meet members of the press and over 150 Group bookers and Birmingham Hippodrome Friends. Producers from Qdos were also there so everyone was on their best behaviour!
It's very surreal launching pantomime in the middle of June but for many here at the theatre it's panto all year round. Tickets for Sleeping Beauty went on sale before Xmas last year so for the last six months we have already been in festive mood.
We had lots of members of the press turn up for the launch including the breakfast crew from Heart FM who had been given the task of waking Sleeping Beauty (Lucy Evans) from her slumber. Joe Pasquale, in full costume as muddles, was horsing around on a pantomime Unicorn specially for photographs (very funny!)and Ray Quinn looking handsome as the Prince was in fine form and joking around with Jenny Jones from Radio WM. But for me Ceri Dupree who plays Lady Passionella stole the day. With a figure hugging dress and a massive peacock head dress he looked amazing. He also paid tribute to the late Danny La Rue at the launch and later told me that he was going for a panto record with an amazing 20 costume changes in the show. I can't wait to see those frocks!
Joe Pasquale was funnier than ever and members of the invited audience were treated to a spot of Pasquale painting - a picture of Judy Garland as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. I didn't know he could paint - we're going to auction the picture later this year.
Michael Harrison, is one of the country's youngest panto Director's was at the launch too. He's going to be directing Sleeping Beauty which sees the return of the amazing 3D we had in panto a couple of years ago.
After the studio performance Ray Quinn had to dash back to London for the evening performance of Grease but the rest of the cast stayed on to sign autographs and pose for pictures.
The pantomime opens here on 19 Dec so the cast will be back mid December for rehearsals - in the meantime I'll let Sleeping Beauty get off to bed for some rest!
It's very surreal launching pantomime in the middle of June but for many here at the theatre it's panto all year round. Tickets for Sleeping Beauty went on sale before Xmas last year so for the last six months we have already been in festive mood.
We had lots of members of the press turn up for the launch including the breakfast crew from Heart FM who had been given the task of waking Sleeping Beauty (Lucy Evans) from her slumber. Joe Pasquale, in full costume as muddles, was horsing around on a pantomime Unicorn specially for photographs (very funny!)and Ray Quinn looking handsome as the Prince was in fine form and joking around with Jenny Jones from Radio WM. But for me Ceri Dupree who plays Lady Passionella stole the day. With a figure hugging dress and a massive peacock head dress he looked amazing. He also paid tribute to the late Danny La Rue at the launch and later told me that he was going for a panto record with an amazing 20 costume changes in the show. I can't wait to see those frocks!
Joe Pasquale was funnier than ever and members of the invited audience were treated to a spot of Pasquale painting - a picture of Judy Garland as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. I didn't know he could paint - we're going to auction the picture later this year.
Michael Harrison, is one of the country's youngest panto Director's was at the launch too. He's going to be directing Sleeping Beauty which sees the return of the amazing 3D we had in panto a couple of years ago.
After the studio performance Ray Quinn had to dash back to London for the evening performance of Grease but the rest of the cast stayed on to sign autographs and pose for pictures.
The pantomime opens here on 19 Dec so the cast will be back mid December for rehearsals - in the meantime I'll let Sleeping Beauty get off to bed for some rest!
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