Flashdance the Musical

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This article is about the musical. For the film, see Flashdance.
Flashdance
The Musical
Flashdancew.jpg
West End poster
Music Robbie Roth
Lyrics Robbie Roth & Robert Cary
Book Tom Hedley & Robert Cary
Basis Flashdance
Productions 2008 UK Tour
2010 West End
2013 US Tour

Flashdance the Musical is a stage adaptation of the 1983 musical film Flashdance. The show had its world premiere in 2008 in Plymouth, followed by a United Kingdom tour through May 2009 and a 16-week London West End run at the Shaftesbury Theatre through January 2011. The musical had a US tour in 2013-2015 but an expected Broadway run was postponed.

Overview

Set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the show revolves around 18-year-old Alex, a welder by day and ‘flashdancer’ by night, and her dreams of attending the prestigious Shipley Dance Academy.

Based on the Paramount Pictures film (Screenplay by Tom Hedley and Joe Eszterhas, story by Tom Hedley) the UK production described itself as "an unmistakably unique musical about holding onto your dreams and love against all the odds". The show includes hits "Maniac", "Manhunt", "Gloria", the award-winning title track "Flashdance – What a Feeling".

Productions

2008 Plymouth

The show had its world premiere in July 2008 at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth[1]

2008 Uk tour

The 2008-09 UK tour was directed by Kenny Leon and choreographed by Arlene Phillips, with a book by Tom Hadly & Robert Cary, music by Robbie Roth and lyrics by Robbie Roth and Robert Cary.[1] The UK touring production's cast included Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as Alex Owens, Noel Sullivan as Nick Hurley, Bernie Nolan as Hannah Owens and Bruno Langley as Jimmy Kaminsky.

2010 West End

The 2010 West End production ran at the Shaftesbury Theatre through January 2011.[2] Produced by David Ian, the show was directed by Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Phillips. The cast featured Victoria Hamilton-Barritt as Alex Owens, Matt Willis as Nick Hurley, Sarah Ingram as Hannah Owens and Sam Mackay as Jimmy Kaminsky.

Previews were due to begin on Friday 24 September 2010, postponed by technical difficulties to the following day. The production closed earlier than planned on 15 January 2011.

2013-2015 US tour

A lengthy US tour began in January 2013 in Pittsburgh.[3][4][5]

Broadway production

There had been discussion of a Broadway production. In December 2011, reports emerged stating a re-working of the London production would premiere on Broadway in "fall 2012".[6] However, as of March 2012, the official website was showing a single page with a reworked logo and the tag line "Coming to a city near you" and a confirmed engagement for the tour to visit Pittsburgh's Heinz Hall (the city where the production is set) from January 1 to 6, 2013.[7] It was later announced that after the tour, Flashdance the Musical would transfer to Broadway in August 2013. However, the producers announced in April 2013 that the August opening of Flashdance on Broadway would be postponed. The producers said that the postponement was due to a lack of theatres in the fall and too many subplots.[8][9][5]


Cast

Character Original UK Tour Cast Original West End Cast
Alex Owens Victoria Hamilton-Barritt Victoria Hamilton-Barritt
Nick Hurley Noel Sullivan Matt Willis
Hannah Owens Bernie Nolan Sarah Ingram
Jimmy Kaminsky Bruno Langley Sam Mackay
Gloria Ruthie Stevens Charlotte Harwood
Jazmin Djalenja Scott Twinnie Lee Moore
Keisha Carryl Thomas Hannah Levane
Abe Michael Conway Brendan Cull
Harry Gavin Spokes Russell Dixon
Joe Gavin Spokes Russell Dixon
Dr Kool Simon Harvey Ricky Rojas
Sammy Simon Harvey Andrew Spillett
CC Michael Conway Robbie White

Differences between stage and film

  • The film's characters Jeanie and Tina Tech have been combined to create Gloria.
  • Instead of the Zanzibar being a strip club it's now a club with no nudity - just pole dancing.
  • The character of Richie Blazik is cut and the character Jimmy Kaminsky is substituted, however the two characters have very little in common.
  • The substory in which Alex and Nick break up because Alex believes he's cheating on her is missing from the stage show.
  • All the "Flashdancer's" solos are cut, minus Alex's famous chair dance. However this is moved to the end of act one for ease of changing and clean up.
  • Songs from the film that are used in the show are used in a different context. For instance Manhunt is no longer used for a solo dance piece it is sung over a montage of Nick and Alex on a series of dates. Another example is Gloria. In the film this is used during Jeanie's ice skating solo, however in the show it is used when Gloria performs in the strip club. However "What a Feeling" is still used for Alex's audition.
  • In the film Nick convinces Alex to go to her audition, in the stage show her friends convince her and accompany her to the audition.

Musical numbers

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Nathan, John. " 'Flashdance' Musical to Make World Premiere in U.K. in July" playbill.com, February 12, 2008
  2. ↑ [1] londontheatredirect.com
  3. ↑ [2] pittsburghlive.com
  4. ↑ " 'Flashdance' National Tour Will Launch in Pittsburgh" pittsburgh.broadway.com, January 20, 2012
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Hofler, Robert. Legit Review: ‘Flashdance the Musical’ Variety, May 13, 2013
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Hetrick, Adam and Jones, Kenneth. "Hold the Water! 'Flashdance — The Musica'l Will Not Arrive on Broadway This Summer" playbill.com, April 23, 2013

External links

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