Coronation Street musical Street of Dreams to return?

The Coronation Street musical Street of Dreams has become something of a soap opera in itself.
This week, this was reported in The Stage:

Beleaguered Coronation Street musical Street of Dreams is set for a possible resurrection, with producers being sought to stage a new version of the show.

A restaging of the musical could see creditors ­– who were left thousands of pounds out of pocket when the original production of the musical collapsed in 2012 – paid some of the money owed to them.

As reported by The Stage in 2012, the original arena show – starring Paul O’Grady – was pulled just two days into its run after producers hit financial problems.

Reckless Entertainment and Street of Dreams Ltd, the two production companies run by John and Trisha Ward that were listed as being behind the show, were subsequently placed into administration. Cast and crew were left thousands of pounds out of pocket as a result.

However, administrators Chantrey Vellacott DFK are now seeking “expressions of interest from parties interested in promoting and putting on a musical from the original concept of Street of Dreams”.

Adrian Hyde, from the administrators, said: “The Coronation Street brand remains hugely popular and the show itself was a big seller, despite its problems.  We are hopeful that with a fresh approach from an experienced operator the show could achieve the success that the creators had hoped.  We look forward to working with interested parties to put together an agreement that can satisfy all the major stakeholders, and deliver a return to creditors.”

Parties would be bidding for the show’s scripts, music, sets and costumes – which are co-owned by ITV – and the rights to put on the musical in either its current form, or a form that is agreed by the administrators and ITV.

In a document seen by The Stage, the administrators state that interested parties must have “well established commercial credentials, and an acknowledged reputation within the industry”.

The company adds that parties will have to satisfy both the administrators of Street of Dreams Ltd and ITV, which owns the Coronation Street brand.

“The rights to Street of Dreams – the Coronation Street Musical are subject to a pre-existing licence with ITV. A further full licence agreement will need to be agreed with ITV (in the event of a successful bid) and the format, musical and script will also be subject to agreement with ITV,” it says.

Read our review of the Street of Dreams musical here.

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Paul O’Grady launches court action against Corrie musical producers

This just in today from The Stage, another chapter in the long-running saga that is the Coronation Street musical Street of Dreams. It's like a soap opera all of its own.

Paul O’Grady’s management company has begun legal proceedings against the producers of the postponed Coronation Street musical Street of Dreams. Reckless Entertainment, the company behind the musical, pulled the show, which starred O’Grady, just two days into a planned arena tour in May this year.

Now BM Creative Management Limited, which represents O’Grady, has launched a bid to have Reckless Entertainment wound up through a court order.

It continues: “Winding-up does not mean that the creditors of the company will necessarily get paid. The purpose of winding-up a company is to ensure that all the company’s affairs have been dealt with properly.”
The Insolvency Service also warns that costs may also be awarded against a company serving the petition, if the court believes it has “used the winding-up procedure inappropriately, where the company has good reason for saying it does not owe the money”.

BM Creative Management and Reckless Entertainment refused to comment.

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Paul O'Grady slams Corrie musical

Oh dear. It just keeps getting worse.  After the Corrie musical Street of Dreams was announced this week as being postponed in an email leaked to The Stage, the show's narrator, Paul O’Grady has spoken out, labeling the show “bedlam” and accusing the musical's producers of being “incompetent, inept and unprofessional”

He also revealed that the majority of the cast have yet to be paid and urged Ward, who is the managing director of the show’s production company Reckless Entertainment, to “pay up”.

“That is what is killing me. I can afford it, but they [the cast and crew] can’t." he says. "I feel like screaming out, ‘Pay your crew.' That is what is sickening me. And there were people on this for whom this was their first job, and I had to tell them it’s not like this all the time.”

He also revealed that when the production opened there was no complete script in place, with the performer claiming he had to “cobble stuff together” during the Manchester performances. He added that the set was unfinished, and that cast members were asked to provide their own costumes for the show.

And even if the musical does come back to the stage, Paul O’Grady said he is unlikely to be part of it.

“I don’t think I could to tell you the truth, I have been poisoned so much. We all feel like we have been thrown down the rabbit hole, gone through some crazy wonderland, and come out the other side saying, ‘What was that about?’.”


Read Paul O'Grady's full interview at The Stage website

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Corrie musical Street of Dreams postpones tour

This just in from The Stage

Coronation Street musical Street of Dreams has postponed its forthcoming tour, with the producers claiming they are “far from happy with the show artistically”.

The musical opened in Manchester on May 9 and 10. It was due to continue to Dublin, Belfast and Newcastle later this month.

In an email seen by The Stage that was sent to cast and crew involved in the production, the show’s co-producer John Ward, from Reckless Entertainment, said he was postponing the dates planned for later this month because he and his production team, which includes Coronation Street Executive Producer Kieran Roberts, “are far from happy with the show artistically and we are not prepared to take it out again in its present form”. He added: “We will be re-working the show for dates later in the year.”

Ward stressed the show has not been cancelled but admitted that it has “been a very rocky ride”.

He added: “But the upside is that we had a terrific reaction from the fans on both Wednesday and Thursday night and an improved show certainly has the potential to go on and be a long running hit. We had some mixed reviews but also some raves. But it needs to be changed.”

He said he and the show’s composer, Trisha Ward, would be “doing everything in our power to make this a smoother ride from now on”. In his email, Ward moved to allay fears about payment of those involved. He said that he will be in touch with those involved "individually shortly regarding matters financial. People will be paid but we do need a bit more patience and that may not be what you want to hear,” he said.

Crikey. It did get awful reviews, mind. 

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Review: Corrie Musical Street Of Dreams

Reprinted with permission from David's Daily Dramas Blog

Yesterday I went up to a very wet Manchester to see the first ever performance of the Coronation Street musical, Street Of Dreams. I was due to go in March but it was cancelled due to technical problems and postponed for two months so I was expecting it to be spot on by now.

It is being performed in arenas rather than theatres and on entering the MEN arena it was easy to see why. The set was a life size replica of the famous terrace placed lengthways across the arena floor. I took my seat in the 3rd row outside No. 11 and waited for the action to begin.

Corrie has been broadcast longer than I have been alive and over the five decades I have followed the ups and downs and big storylines of the famous cobbled street. Paul O'Grady is a famous fan of the Street and he opened the show and took the role of narrator leaping across the decades to the various storylines now being presented in song. He was joined by current character Julie Carp (Katy Cavanagh) who was playing the Angel of Death picking off some of the many characters who had died in the show. This to me was a mistake, she made it all veer towards panto with her ridiculous outfit and the jokes between her and Paul O'Grady were a bit childish and unnecessary to the story.

The first two numbers were Ena Sharples from the opening episode in the corner shop ("I said no eclairs") and Martha Longhurst dying in the Rovers, both done really well. There was an orchestra on the rooftops and then a huge screen showing the original footage from the story lines.

Next came who I regard as the queen of the cobbles, Elsie Tanner! Kym Marsh played Elsie from the 60s and looked fabulous - and to me was the star of this show. She has leading lady written all over and had the best voice of the night. Elsie left The Street but returned in the 70s in colour and was played by Jodie Prenger, fuller figured, red haired but still as feisty. The best moment in the whole show was a song between the two Elsies.

Famous for its ballsy, blousey women who come back fighting no matter what life throws at them we next met Bet Lynch. With her blonde beehive, leopard skin and short skirt she sang Just A Bit Of Lippie and was joined with a whole chorus of Bets dancing on stage. As the song reached the last chorus the set opened to reveal Julie Goodyear, who played Bet Lynch, to thunderous applause and a standing ovation. It was fabulous that she did it but looking like a 90 year old drag queen in a panto outfit and not a singer she was obviously there just as a name to sell tickets.

As famous for its comedy moments as its tragedy we were treated to Jack & Vera and the Vince St. Clair story and Stan & Hilda's second honeymoon: "What does that lipstick taste of?" "Woman Stanley, woman." My only criticism of Hilda was that we should have been introduced to her in her curlers and mac with the dirty collar as she only had her rollers out half a dozen times in her Corrie carear.

Fast tracking to more modern times there was a great number from Becky McDonald, with a number of Beckys in her different signature outfits including both wedding dresses. This worked really well but the scene with Sean was a complete disaster. He sang a song at his sewing machine about sewing gussets and dreaming of a more glamorous life. Cue two Priscilla-type drag queens and a butterfly costume as he was hoisted over the audience. With Canal Street being a tram ride away he could get a taste of that life any night of the week, it just didn't make sense.

The show ended with the tram crash and the Angel of Death going into overdrive killing everyone. Great effects with the street bursting into flames but being so close I could feel my eyebrows singeing. For some unexplained and unknown reason in the big finale number with everyone on stage Russell Watson appeared and sang the last song. This also didn't make any sense.

All in all I enjoyed it but more so because I am a fan of the show. The plot had more holes in it than Ena's hairnet and it could and would need to be a lot better to ever make it to the West End, which it could easily with some more work.

With some really outstanding moments and strong songs it definitely wasn't the tram crash it could have been, but it did try too hard to be funny which was just not necessary. I clocked a number of Brighton & London A gays there, along with the coach loads of pensioners so there is an audience for this show and I'd give it a 7 out 10, boosted mostly by Kym Marsh's outstanding portrayal of Elsie.

David McDonagh, May 2012

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Corrie's Yana Lumb writes for Street of Dreams Musical

You know how some people are very talented, multi-talented, and you're more than an incy-bit jealous?  Well, Jayne Tunnicliffe who played Yana Lumb on Coronation Street is one of those ladies who are creative all-rounders. As well as being an actress, Jayne is also a talented artist, jewelry designer, she's been a storyline writer for Corrie and Emmerdale and now she's been writing for the Coronation Street musical.

Jayne, along with her husband Mark Bickerton, who is the Senior Storyline Writer at Coronation Street, have just finished writing additional material for the script of 'Street of Dreams'-  the Corrie musical. 

Jayne tells us here at the Coronation Street Blog: "We've thoroughly enjoyed it - espeically writing for Paul O'Grady, who of course I have had a long association with, having written with and performed beside him on stage with Lily Savage and on TV in Live from the Lilydrome and two series of Lily Live.

"The combination of writing for Paul and also classic Corrie characters was a dream come true, especially as we are such fans of Trisha Ward's songs. The show was also written by Trisha Ward and Corrie writer Damon Rochefort. It should be a fab production and we can't wait to see it live in Manchester in a couple of weeks."

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Pics: Corrie musical "Street of Dreams" launch

Today's been the day when the Corrie musical Street of Dreams was officially launched. ITV are calling it "Corrie meets Moulin Rouge" and it will see current Coronatio Street cast members such as Kym Marsh (Michelle Connor) and Katy Cavanagh (Julie Carp) team up with Corrie veterans Julie Goodyear (Bet Lynch) and Kevin Kennedy (Curly Watts.)

Comedian Paul O'Grady will compere the show, which sees guest stars pay homage to famous roles. Comprised of 26 songs played by a 25-piece orchestra, the show includes memorable scenes from the past played on giant screens. It will premiere in Manchester on May 9 before going on tour to Dublin, Belfast and Newcastle.

Kym Marsh plays the young Elsie Tanner in the musical and Julie Goodyear will be returning to her role as leopardskin-clad pub landlady Lynch, brought back to life for the two Manchester dates.

 

Anyone going? Afraid it's a cobble-step too far for this Corrie fan, musicals lover and ardent theatre-goer.

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Joe McElderry stars in Coronation Street musical

Former X-Factor winner Joe McElderry is to appear in the Coronation Street musical Street of Dreams.

Jo will perform the finale when new musical Street of Dreams arrives at Newcastle Metro Radio Arena on May 29 and 30.

Joe will sing Ghosts – Take My Hand, written by Street of Dreams composer Trisha Ward.

He spent yesterday on the Corrie set and told the Newcastle Chronicle: “I’m a huge fan of Coronation Street, so I’m in my element. I’m fortunate in my job that I meet loads of amazingly talented people, and I’m always really professional and never ask for pictures, but I’ve been running around the set all day taking pictures on my phone like a proper fan – it’s been brilliant.”

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Jodie Prenger confirmed as Elsie Tanner for Corrie musical

It's confirmed that Jodie Prenger will play the role of Elsie Tanner in the Coronation Street musical, Street of Dreams.
Jodie shot to fame on the BBC’s I’d Do Anything talent show.

“I just love the character of Elsie to bits,” Jodie tells the Manchester Evening News. “The great thing about it, it’s half my heart and half my head taking this role, as my nan was always known as Elsie Tanner. she was the spitting image of Elsie. my nan’s brother used to deliver all Pat Phoenix’s groceries, so it’s almost like I was destined to play the role. Also my fella’s called Simon Booth and of course Pat was married to Tony Booth.”

Now Jodie, 32, is swotting up on old Corrie episodes to perfect the northern grit and wit of the great Elsie. She laughs: “I couldn’t be happier. I’m up to my eyeballs on youtube watching old videos. It’s brilliant. Elsie Tanner is that cracking, strong northern woman, and there’s loads of strong northern women I’m going to be channeling into this role. She had her ups and downs. Every man should be scared of her!”

Jodie will take the role of the later-years Elsie, along with as-yet-to-be announced guest stars to play the young Elsie in the show.

Could it be Kym Marsh, as rumoured?

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Kym Marsh to play Elsie Tanner in Coronation Street musical

Kym Marsh, who plays Michelle Connor in Coronation Street, is to star as Elsie Tanner in the Corrie musical, Street of Dreams.

A source told the Sunday Mirror: "Elsie is one of the main characters so it was vital to get someone really strong. We are over the moon."

The musical is narrated by Paul O'Grady and the cast includes Bill Roache (Ken Barlow) plus Street legends Julie Goodyear (Bet Lynch) and Kevin Kennedy (Curly Watts).

Is anyone going to see this musical who would like to review it for us here on the blog as we won't be making a trip to Manchester for this.

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Curly's return to Coronation Street "will probably happen"

Kevin Kennedy, who is preparing to bring back Curly Watts to Coronation Street in the big musical world premiere celebrating the show, Street of Dreams says he hopes it may pave the way to a full-time Corrie return in the future.

Kevin told the Manchester Evening News: “It's no secret that I would love to come back to the Street, and it will probably happen at some point.  I'm lucky that fans seem to really like the character. But I'm just happy for now to be involved in this world premiere and bringing Curly back to Manchester.”

While many of us love Kevin as Curly, in recent years he has carved out a hugely successful musical career on London's West End stage, currently starring in Queen musical We Will Rock You.

He says: “It's all come full circle really for me.  I never thought I'd find myself as a musical theatre boy, it was never really my bag.  I never thought I'd be in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Chicago and now We Will Rock You, it just never crossed my mind in the past as I was always more of a comedy actor.  But I have to say I thoroughly enjoy the musicals.”

We Will Rock You have released Kevin especially to take part in the premiere of Street of Dreams, and he says audiences are in for a treat.  “It's big, it's spectacular, that's why it's got to be in an Arena setting.  It's just a beautiful piece of work and very complimentary to what Coronation Street is all about. They couldn't have had the world premiere anywhere else but Manchester, could they?  And I think a Manchester audience takes things really to their hearts.”

And while in real-life Kevin has had corrective laser eye surgery, he's happy to once again don Curly's trademark specs for the role.

Join the Bring Back Curly to Coronation Street facebook group.

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Kevin Kennedy's Abbey Road of Dreams

Kevin Kennedy is one of the stars of the upcoming Corrie musical, Street of Dreams, along with Julie Goodyear, Brian Capron and Paul O'Grady among others.

In The Sun today, there's an interview with Kevin and a few fab photos of him recording the soundtrack at the legendary Abbey Road studios in London. Naturally, there's also a photo of him crossing the road in front of the studios along with Brian Capron, who played Richard Hillman on Coronation Street.

Kevin says he'd love to come back to Coronation Street and hopes he's asked to return for Betty Williams' funeral later this year. (I hope so too!) He says "Curly will always be a big part of my life." Curly was always one of my favourite characters and it would be lovely to see CurlyLad back for a visit. If he does, I hope he acknowledges the passing of Jack and Vera with a quiet word to Tyrone!

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Video: Julie Goodyear on bringing Bet Lynch back to Corrie

Julie Goodyear was interviewed on BBC1's Breakast show today about bringing Bet Lynch back to Coronation Street. Julie will be starring in the new Corrie musical Street of Dreams reprising her iconic role as barmaid Bet.

Julie was interviewed with the musical writer and composer Trisha Ward, a canny lass from Sunderland. Trisha admitted she's been a Corrie fan since she was little. She's co-written the script with Corrie writer Damon Rochefort and says meeting Julie was a real highlight for her.

Talking about the new musical, Julie said the world gala performance will take place on March 22nd and the play runs for 2 nights on March 21st and 22nd.  Julie says that there's no way that ITV would have given the musical the thumbs up if it hadn't been of the quality and calibre that it is.

Asked if there's any chance she would be returning to the show after the musical, Julie said that if she was asked to return for Betty's on-screen funeral, "then there's no way I would be able to refuse."

Interestingly, Trisha Ward said that the casting for the part of Elsie Tanner in the musical would be announced in January.  I wonder who it'll be?

Watch Julie's full interview on video here (it starts at 25 mins in).

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Video: Kevin Kennedy on bringing Curly back to Corrie

Kevin Kennedy was interviewed on ITV's Breakast show today about bringing Curly Watts back to Coronation Street. Kevin will be starring in the new Corrie musical Street of Dreams as the hapless Curly.

He says he misses playing Curly and misses the people he used to work with at Coronation Street.  He talked about shooting a scene as Curly with Racquel when he named the star after her, a wonderful scene that this fan remembers well.  Asked if there was a chance he'd be back on the soap, he says: "You never know" and admits it's no secret that he'd love to return.  As would we!

Talking about the new musical, Kevin said it'll be a spectacular, amazing stageshow, narrated by Paul O'Grady. It's an all-singing, all-dancing spectacular and advises people to get their tickets asap as they're selling very fast indeed.

Kevin said his children are too young to remember him as Curly on Corrie so they'll be along to see their dad in the new musical show in Manchester.

Watch Kevin's full interview on video here.

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Work placement opportunity for new Corrie Musical

There's a work placement opportunity in the press office for the Coronation Street Musical - Street of Dreams.

Interested?

Email your CV to nicola.murray@itv.com


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Julie Goodyear on bringing Bet Lynch back to Coronation Street

Julie Goodyear was interviewed on ITV's Loose Women today where she talked about bringing Bet Lynch back to Coronation Street in the new musical Street of Dreams.

As camp as Christmas and surrounded by three semi-naked young hunks, Julie made her apperance on the show in a sparkly top and trademark heavy eye liner. She always gives good telly!

Julie says the new Corrie musical will be a "10 star" show and she will be working with her old mate Paul O'Grady, who is the show's narrator.   There'll be West End dancers, a huge live orchestra, the houses from the Street will be on the stage and it'll cover the whole five decades of Corrie. 

Julie revealed that one of the songs she'll be singing in the musical as Bet will be called: "Nowt that a bit o' lippy wouldn't solve," which sounds wonderful.

Asked if she would be reappearing as Bet on Coronation Street on TV, Julie replied: "You never know!".


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Paul O'Grady on Corrie's Street of Dreams musical

There's a good interview today in The Mirror with Paul O'Grady who talks about his role in the new Coronation Street musical, Street of Dreams.

From The Mirror:

The musical will re-enact memorable storylines and iconic characters from the past five decades, in 90 minutes of high energy song and dance routines.The premiere is in March in Manchester and features Paul alongside famous faces, including William Roache (Ken Barlow), Julie Goodyear (Bet Lynch), Kevin Kennedy (Curly Watts), Brian Capron (Richard Hillman) and actors playing much-loved characters of the past such as the late, great Elsie Tanner and Ena Sharples.

Paul says: “The show is based on the album Coronation Street – Rogues, Angels, Heroes and Fools, which was written by Trisha Ward. I was sent a copy last year and I played it on the radio and I thought the songs were really clever, so when Trisha rang up and asked if I was interested I said yes. I fancied doing some theatre, it sounded like a good idea and I love Coronation Street.”

Paul is on stage for most of the show. “There’s no popping off for a cup of tea for me,” he laughs. “I’ve got a script that is as thick as Lord of the Rings. There’s a nice little bit with me and Ena Sharples in the shop – now there’s something I thought I’d never say! Me and Elsie… it’s just incredible. I’m going to be having tea with the Barlows, doing a bit of a tango with Vera. I’ve not handpicked the storylines myself but I know each and every one of them inside out. Our household were such avid Corrie viewers and at 7.30 pronto we’d all sit down together and watch it. And if the phone dared ring during that half hour my mother would be outraged. There are still big chunks of script engraved in my memory from 30 years back.”

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Coronation Street The Musical - tickets now on sale

The Coronation Street musical show will debut in Manchester next year, hosted by Paul O'Grady.  

Watch the promo video here.

Street of Dreams will open at Manchester's M.E.N Arena on 21 March, featuring stars of 'the street' past and present including Julie Goodyear Kevin Kennedy, Brian Capron William Roache and Katy Cavanagh.

According to press material, “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 into this brilliant musical event by award-winning musical writer, composer and lyricist, Trisha Ward.”

BAFTA winning film and stage director John Stephenson will direct the the show, which will feature a 25-piece orchestra, a “West End cast” and choreography from Olivier award winner Stephen Mear. Co-scripted by Corrie writer  Damon Rochefort, Street of Dreams will be executive produced by Kieran Roberts for ITV Studios and John Ward for Reckless Entertainment.

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.”

The musical is in Manchester on Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd March 2012.

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Street of Dreams musical announced!

I was just looking at some Coronation Street videos on Youtube, when I spotted this, and it was uploaded today. It's a trailer for the upcoming musical, starring in the trailer is Paul O'Grady, Curly Watts and Bet Lynch.


I don't actually think this has been formally announced just yet, but the tickets will be on sale at MEN arena website.

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